Defense Witness Testifies at Burma's Trial of Aung San Suu Kyi
By VOA News
28 May 2009
The sole defense witness in Burma's widely criticized trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi argued in court that she did not violate the terms of her house arrest.
Legal expert Kyi Win told reporters outside the closed court Thursday that there is no legal basis for charging Aung San Suu Kyi over an incident in which an uninvited American secretly swam to her home.
Kyi Win's testimony - echoing that of Aung San Suu Kyi earlier this week - argued that it was the job of government guards outside her home to keep intruders out.
Other witnesses barred
The court earlier barred three other witnesses who were prepared to testify.
Outside the court, a man in his 50s was arrested Thursday after holding up a poster that said, "Saving Suu is Saving Burma."
Sources in Burma said hundreds of supporters gathered Thursday near Insein prison where the trial is being held.
Closing arguments Monday
Closing arguments in the case will be heard on Monday. The trial could send the 63-year-old Nobel Peace laureate to prison for five years.
The international community has loudly criticized Aung San Suu Kyi's trial, saying the military-led government is using the proceedings to extend her house arrest and bar her from democratic elections next year.
Speaking with the press Thursday at a meeting in Cambodia, Burma's deputy foreign minister, Maung Myint, dismissed criticism of the trial, calling it an internal legal matter.
The Burmese government claims Aung San Suu Kyi is a threat to national security, and has kept her under house arrest for more than 13 of the past 19 years.
The Burmese government said Aung San Suu Kyi's trial would not have any impact on politics and stressed that it is going ahead plans to hold elections next year.
In 1990, her National League for Democracy won democratic elections, but the results of the race were annulled by the country's military rulers.
Vision from God
Aung San Suu Kyi is being tried because she gave shelter to an American, John Yettaw, who swam to her house in the early morning hours of May 4. Yettaw said he received a vision from God that terrorists planned to assassinate her and told the court that God told him to come to Burma to warn Aung San Suu Kyi.
The pro-democracy leader testified Tuesday that she gave Yettaw "temporary shelter" until he left the next day. Her lawyers said she asked the 53-year-old American to leave, but allowed him to stay overnight after he said he was too exhausted and ill to swim back.
Yettaw is also facing trial as are Aung San Suu Kyi's two caretakers.
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