Washington, DC – IRI today issued the following statement from Institute President Lorne W. Craner condemning the decision by Burma’s military junta to sentence Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to 18 months of house arrest, after a trial that failed to provide her basic legal rights.
“This repugnant action demonstrates, yet again, the lack of commitment to democratization by Burma’s military regime.
“With the leader of the democratic opposition under an increasingly stringent incarceration, the military junta has signaled it has no intention of transition, regardless of its claimed ‘Roadmap to Democracy.’ The sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi unequivocally demonstrates the regime’s 2010 parliamentary elections are a charade masking the intent to entrench and legitimize military rule.
“The international community cannot turn a blind eye to the rampant human rights and judicial abuses of the people of Burma. IRI calls on Burma’s allies, particularly India, China and Singapore, to influence Burma’s leaders to lessen its unyielding grip on the citizens and political activists of Burma.”
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