Suu Kyi not above the law, says Burma

Burma's military junta defended its prosecution of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi today, saying she was not above the law, and warned other countries not to meddle in its internal affairs.

The comments marked the first time a top official from the reclusive regime had publicly defended its actions, which have drawn widespread international condemnation, including from its closest neighbours in south-east Asia.

"If offenders are not (prosecuted), anarchy will prevail and there will be breach of peace and security," Burma's deputy defence minister Maj Gen Aye Myint told a security conference in Singapore.

The junta has charged Ms Suu Kyi, 63, with violating the terms of her house arrest by sheltering American John Yettaw after he secretly swam to her lakeside home in early May.

Ms Suu Kyi's lawyers said Mr Yettaw, 53, sneaked on to her property and have blamed security guards who monitor her house arrest for the breach.

The Nobel peace laureate has been in detention without trial for more than 13 of the past 19 years. If convicted by the court - which operates under the influence of the ruling military and almost always deals harshly with political dissidents - she faces up to five years in jail.

Maj Gen Aye Myint said Ms Suu Kyi was charged because she allowed a foreigner to stay in her house, communicated with him and provided him food and shelter instead of informing the police.

The police noted that Ms Suu Kyi "committed a cover-up of the truth by her failure to report an illegal immigrant," he told the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual forum of defence ministers, academics, experts and analysts.

"Thus there was no option but to proceed with legal proceedings," he said. "It is the universal legal principle that no-one is above the law."

He said other countries "should refrain from interfering in internal affairs that will affect peace and security of the region". Otherwise, it "may possibly affect mutual understanding and friendly relations" with other countries, he said.

He said the junta was committed to democracy and would hold elections in 2010, but few people believe the ruling generals will give up power easily. They see the election promise as a delaying tactic to keep international criticism at bay, and some have suggested Ms Suu Kyi's trial is meant to ensure she is in jail during that vote.

Ms Suu Kyi's party overwhelmingly won the last elections held in 1990 but was not allowed to take power by the military, which has run the country since 1962.

Maj Gen Aye Myint's speech was followed by a question-and-answer session, but no delegate asked him for clarifications, an indication that his comments were not taken seriously and few expected convincing answers.