Suu Kyi Accuses Prosecution of Bias

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has issued a statement denying that she broke the terms of her house detention order and saying she gave John William Yettaw temporary shelter because she didn’t want to be responsible for his arrest.

In the statement, released on Wednesday by her National League for Democracy, Suu Kyi said: "I gave a temporary shelter as requested because I don’t push any one to be arrested and detained according to my political belief."

She added in her statement: "It is not important for me whoever the intruder is and what his aim is. I just did according to my political belief."

Accusing the authorities of bias against her, Suu Kyi, who has been held under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years, questioned why legal action was not being taken against security officials guarding her home.

"This incident occurred because of a security breach (by authorities). However, until now no action has been taken on security," Suu Kyi said in her statement. "The fact that I am the only party being prosecuted shows the partiality of the prosecution."

Suu Kyi also rejected testimony by a prosecution witness accusing her of violating terms of her house arrest order barring contact with outsiders. She pointed out the 1974 state constitution containing the prohibition order lost its legality after the present Burmese military government took power in 1988.    

Suu Kyi also said she had never been warned that she should report any outside intrusion to the authorities. She also rejected a statement by a prosecution witness claiming that she and the authorities were together responsible for the security of her home. “That statement is totally wrong,” she said in her statement. 

Suu Kyi said she told Yettaw to leave when the American arrived at her lakeside home on the morning of May 4. Yettaw told her that he would be arrested if he left during the day and asked if he could stay temporarily, promising to depart under cover of night.

But Yettaw did not leave as promised, pleading poor health, and asked to stay one more night.

Suu Kyi said Yettaw had made an unauthorized visit to her home in November 2008, and she had asked her doctor, Tin Myo Win, to report it to the authorities. No action had then been taken, she said.

Suu Kyi faces up to five years imprisonment if found guilty of violating the terms of her house arrest order by allowing Yettaw to stay.