Burma opens Suu Kyi's trial to media

Burma's military regime suddenly opened pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's trial to the press today and allowed diplomats to meet her, in the face of worldwide outrage regarding the handling of her case.

Burma's military regime suddenly opened pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's trial to the press today and allowed diplomats to meet her, in the face of worldwide outrage regarding the handling of her case.

The Nobel Peace laureate, who has been in detention without trial for more than 13 of the past 19 years, is accused of violating the terms of her house arrest after an American man stayed at her home without official permission. The offence is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment.

She is on trial with two female members of her party who live with her, and John Yettaw, the American who swam to Suu Kyi's lakeside home under the cover of darkness earlier this month and sneaked in uninvited.

Suu Kyi, appearing alert and in good spirits, greeted diplomats and told them she hoped they could meet again "in better times", according to two of them who asked not to be identified.

The trial adjourned after two more police officers testified for the prosecution, including one who interviewed Suu Kyi after her arrest. He said Suu Kyi told him that she provided Yettaw with several meals.

A township police officer also presented 23 items of evidence, including two black cloaks that resembled abayas typically found in Saudi Arabia, which Yettaw allegedly left behind for Suu Kyi. Two women modelled the all-black garb in the courtroom.

Suu Kyi, who is being held at Rangoon's infamous Insein Prison along with scores of other political prisoners, had been scheduled to be freed on May 27 after six consecutive years under house arrest.

The charges against her are widely seen as a pretext for her to stay in detention during polls scheduled for next year - the culmination of the junta's "roadmap to democracy", which has been criticised as a fig leaf for continued military rule.

Burma has been under military rule since 1962. It last held an election in 1990, but the junta refused to honour the results after a landslide victory by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party.

The court on Monday rejected a request by Suu Kyi's lawyer for an open trial.

However, today the country's Information Ministry ruled that five foreign correspondents and five local reporters could attend the trial and all embassies could send one diplomat.

At the same time, authorities have agreed to allow the Thai, Singapore and Russian ambassadors to meet Suu Kyi.

The move comes a day after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed "grave concern" about developments related to Suu Kyi and reaffirmed calls for her immediate release. It also called for her to get adequate medical care and be treated with dignity.

China, which as Burma's closest ally probably has the most influence with its ruling generals, has shown no sign it is exerting pressure on Burma's government.

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