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Suu Kyi supporters jailed for leading prayers for her release

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] A Myanmar court sentenced two members of the National League of Democracy (NLD) to 18 months in prison after leading prayers for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Chit Pe and Aung Saw Wei were sentenced in a southern Yangon court after being convicted of insulting religion. NLD spokesman Nyan Win reported that the two party members, originally arrested in April, led the prayers at a Twante pagoda for Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. Win, who also acts as Suu Kyi's lawyer, maintained that their actions were not an insult to religion but rather a practice of Buddhism. Suu Kyi's trial was recently delayed to allow a defense witness to explain why the charges against the Nobel Laureate are politically motivated. Suu Kyi faces charges of violating the terms of her house arrest for allowing an American to stay with her after he swam across a lake to visit. Her arrest was controversial and highly criticized by the international community. Suu Kyi, the leader of the NLD, has spent 12 of the past 18 years in prison or under house arrest for alleged violations of an anti-subversion law. News of Suu Kyi's trial has been met with criticism from numerous agencies and governments around the world. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called the charges against Suu Kyi, "trumped up."

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on June 22, 2009 (boomark / email).