Aung San Suu Kyi found guilty by Burma court, will return to house arrest

"It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it." - Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

No surprises here: A court in Myanmar (Burma) has issued a guilty verdict for Nobel laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. She was accused of "violating an internal security law," and will serve an additional 18 months imprisonment under house arrest. She has lived under detention for 14 of the past 20 years. Reuters, CNN. Guardian UK has a timeline of events related to the case.

[#1 posted by mdh, August 11, 2009 12:14 AM]

I think we all know what the verdict is guilty of.

[#2 posted by editjunk, August 11, 2009 12:28 AM]

Military Junta
Tried real hard but couldn'ta
Find a real charge for
Aung Sun Suu Kyi

Their trumped up charges don't stick
Put her in a jail domestic
Thinking they is foolin'
The likes of you an' me

Now she's a freedom Fighter
Military dawg don't like 'er
But them dawgs days are numbered
Just you wait an' see.

[#3 posted by Anonymous, August 11, 2009 12:59 AM]

I wonder what the guy who swam over must be feeling now? Who was the person anyways?

[#4 posted by Takuan, August 11, 2009 2:00 AM]

some mormon.

[#5 posted by thequickbrownfox, August 11, 2009 2:06 AM]

How Big Oil Props Up the Despots http://www.spinwatch.org.uk/-articles-by-category-mainmenu-8/61-oil-industry/4339-burma-how-big-oil-props-up-the-despots

[#6 posted by Takuan, August 11, 2009 2:29 AM]

good article Fox, this line sums it all:
"That said, the bitter truth is that the oil industry does prefer to do business with military despots, no matter what the human and ecological cost to the people."

[#7 posted by nosehat, August 11, 2009 3:24 AM]

no matter what the human and ecological cost to the people

If the ecological cost is "to the people" too, isn't this just "human cost" all over again?

(Random nitpick. I agree with the sentiment of the article and the quote.) =D

[#8 posted by Anonymous, August 11, 2009 3:45 AM]

In another 18 months, I foresee another American swimmer will mysteriously appear at her doorstep.

[#9 posted by markspenser, August 11, 2009 3:59 AM]

Fox i appreciate your article...

[#10 posted by Pantograph, August 11, 2009 4:23 AM]

the timing of this is perfect for the government.

What I want to know is, how did they persuade the moron to swim over?

[#11 posted by brian rutherford, August 11, 2009 5:05 AM]

The guy who swam over was called 'John Yettaw'. According to some reports he's been charged with being in the country illegally and "swimming in a non-swimming area". He got seven years in a Burmese jail, four of those will be doing hard labour. Personally I think the whole thing stinks of a set-up. Did they arrest him beforehand and say "Do this or else"...the fact that he's American is also just to convenient for words.

[#12 posted by Anonymous, August 11, 2009 6:41 AM]

If it hadn't been this guy, it would have been something. They were not going to let her out no matter what. That this guy swam across is irrelevant to the ruling.

[#13 posted by mdh, August 11, 2009 4:00 PM]

If the ecological cost is "to the people" too, isn't this just "human cost" all over again?

If humans are all that matter, then sure.

[#14 posted by Takuan, August 15, 2009 6:03 PM]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/15/burma-release-us-prisoner

so the mormon walks and she rots.

[#15 posted by Antinous / Moderator, August 15, 2009 6:38 PM]

Worst diplomatic mission EVAR.

[#16 posted by Takuan, August 29, 2009 2:59 PM]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8228198.stm

[#17 posted by Anonymous, September 17, 2009 4:23 PM]

The burmese government is well aware of the matters outlined at
www.basicfraud.com
Therefore the governments of the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are silent, whilst the government of America is muted.

I guess Aung Sun Suu Kyi is fucked!

Albert