Junta warns against protests for Suu Kyi
A prison court is expected to deliver a verdict today in the Nobel peace laureate’s trial for breaching the terms of her house arrest by allegedly sheltering an American intruder who swam to her house. The New Light of Myanmar (as Burma is also known) state newspaper published a comment piece yesterday cautioning against anti-government factions and saying that “we have to ward off subversive elements and disruptions”.
“Look out if some arouse the people to take to the streets to come to power. In reality, they are anti-democracy elements, not pro- democracy activists,” the English-language article said. Security has been tight for all the hearings, with memories still fresh in Myanmar of massive anti-junta protests led by Buddhist monks in 2007 which ended in a bloody crackdown. A conviction is widely expected in the two-and-a- half-month trial, which has sparked international outrage. It has been repeatedly delayed as the junta fended off criticism and calls for the release of Suu Kyi.
