Suu Kyi trial adjourned

The trial of Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was adjourned today for two weeks so that defence lawyers can call an additional witness to give evidence.

The District Court in Rangoon trying Ms Suu Kyi, 63, informed lawyers of the postponement until June 26 during a brief hearing at Insein Prison, where the trial is taking place, said a government official close to the court.

No new date was immediately set for closing arguments, which were originally set for June 1 and delayed repeatedly since then.

Today’s postponement was expected after Ms Suu Kyi’s lawyers won an appeal earlier this week to reinstate one defence witness – Khin Moe Moe, a lawyer and member of the Nobel peace laureate’s opposition party.

The lawyers have filed a second appeal with the High Court to bring back two other witnesses barred by the lower court presiding over her trial. If accepted, that appeal could prompt more delays.

The District Court trying Ms Suu Kyi had initially barred the three defence witnesses – leaving Ms Suu Kyi with a sole witness.

Ms Suu Kyi is charged with violating the terms of her house arrest because an uninvited American swam secretly to her closely guarded lakeside home last month and stayed two days.

If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison.

The hearing has drawn outrage from the international community and Ms Suu Kyi’s local supporters, who say the military government is using the bizarre incident as an excuse to keep the pro-democracy leader detained through next year’s elections.

Ms Suu Kyi told her lawyers she believed the case against her was “politically motivated” but that it would not stop her from continuing her fight for democracy, Nyan Win, one of her lawyers, said.

“She said she is engaged in politics due to her political belief and commitment,” Mr Nyan Win said.

“She would not be doing politics if she were afraid of the consequences.”

It is widely expected that Ms Suu Kyi will be found guilty because courts in Burma are known for handing out harsh sentences to political dissidents.

Her party won the country’s last elections in 1990 but was not allowed to take power by the military, which has run the country since 1962. She has been under house arrest for more than 13 of the past 19 years.