Suu Kyi Verdict Delayed, But Action Needed Now

As Burma’s generals again delayed Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial, the Burma Campaign UK today called on the international community to take action now about the deteriorating human rights situation in Burma.

The verdict of Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial may have been delayed, but human rights abuses continue, including the arrest of at least ten more NLD leaders today. This is in direct defiance of United Nations Security Council’s repeated demands that political prisoners be released.

Escalating military action in Pa’an district of Karen State continues to force people to flee their homes. It is part of the dictatorship’s ongoing military offensive in Eastern Burma, where war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed. In the past 15 years, more than 3,300 villages have been destroyed, and hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes.

“The international community has its finger on the pause button of Burma policy, waiting for the outcome of Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial, but human rights abuses haven’t paused, action is needed now,” said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK.

The Burma Campaign UK is calling on members of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the dictatorship’s widespread use of rape against ethnic women and children when they discuss the use of rape as a weapon of war on 6th August. The Council is discussing progress towards achieving goals set out in Resolution 1820, which addresses situations of armed conflict in which sexual violence has been widely or systematically employed against civilians. The UN has officially reported a ‘high prevalence’ of sexual violence by the Burmese Army, but no action has been taken.

The dictatorship today delayed Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial until 11th August. She is on trial for breaking the terms of her house arrest, after an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her house and refused to leave.  The dictatorship often uses delaying tactics in order to avoid strong action by the international community. Aung San Suu Kyi has so far been detained for almost 14 years.

For more information contact Mark Farmaner on +44 (0)207 324 4710

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