Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Burma's Lady receives A.I. Award

Demonstrators attach pictures of the Lady and yellow tape to railings of the Myanmar embassy during London protest, 6/19/09 (Reuters/Luke MacGregor).

RANGOON, Burma – Burma's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has won Amnesty International's highest award for her defense of human rights, underscoring international support for the Nobel laureate whose trial is ending today [7/28/09]. She is widely expected to be convicted of violating the terms of her house arrest and faces a possible five years in prison, although there has been speculation she may stay under house arrest rather than serve time in jail.

Neither international outrage nor offers of closer ties with the U.S. if Suu Kyi is freed appear to have deflected the ruling junta's determination to neutralize — if not imprison — the 64-year-old. The international community and Suu Kyi's local supporters worry the ruling junta has found an excuse to keep her behind bars through elections planned for next year.

Riot police officers stand guard at a checkpoint on the approach road leading to the main entrance of notorious Insein Prison where the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi is ongoing, Monday, July 27, 2009. The trial entered its final phase Monday, with the prosecution scheduled to deliver its closing arguments, a government official said (AP/Khin Maung Win).

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International gave Suu Kyi its Ambassador of Conscience Award on Monday, hoping its highest honor would help deter the junta from imposing any harsh new punishments on her. The Irish band U2 was to publicly announce the award at a Dublin concert Monday night. "In those long and often dark years, Aung San Suu Kyi has remained a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defense of human rights," Amnesty's Secretary General Irene Khan said of her long detention. More>>

Photo taken Friday, 7/24/09, of supporters of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party gather near the notorious Insein Prison as Suu Kyi's trial resumes in Rangoon, Burma (AP/Khin Maung Win).