CZECH PUBLICLY CONDEMN BURMESE SENTENCE AGAINST

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000467

SIPDIS

EAP/MLS FOR LSCHEIBE, AND EUR/CE FOR JBERGEMANN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BM EZ EUN
SUBJECT: CZECH PUBLICLY CONDEMN BURMESE SENTENCE AGAINST
AUNG SAN SUU KYI

REF: STATE 83598


1. (U) On August 11, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout called
on the Burmese regime to immediately release Aung San Suu
Kyi. Calling the verdict "scandalous" and typical of "the
political cynicism of one of the toughest totalitarian
regimes in the world", former Czech president Vaclav Havel
also condemned the 18-month house arrest a Burmese court
imposed on Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The
EU also released a statement indicating the EU will intensify
cooperation with its allies in the international community,
especially in Asia, in order to achieve the unconditional
release of Aung San Suu Kyi. In addition, the Czech NGO
People in Need (PIN) stated the verdict was unjust and the
trial manipulated. PIN called on the U.N. Security Council
to immediately adopt stricter restrictive measures towards
the Burmese junta, including a global arms embargo on Burma
and the establishment of a commission to investigate the
junta's crimes against humanity. Below follows the official
statement of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated
August 11, 2009.


2. (U) Begin "Statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic concerning the
verdict passed over Daw Aung San Suu Kyi":

I consider it unacceptable that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been
sentenced to 18 months of house arrest. The Burmese junta
repeatedly has not listened to the appeals of the United
Nations, the European Union and the member countries of ASEAN
to withdraw the stage-managed court trial with Da Aung San
Suu Kyi. This leading representative of the Burmese
opposition has been and must be a key person of a process,
which should lead to the establishment of democracy in the
country.
Today's decision of the Burmese court only confirms a policy
that we cannot share. I consider as empty any attempts to
defend the verdict or try to interpret it in a positive way.
In this connection, I again urge immediate and unconditional
release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political
prisoners, abolition of all restrictions imposed on political
parties and initiation of an all-round dialogue between the
government and the democratic forces, including ethnic groups.

End Text.
Thompson-Jones