UN chief heads to Myanmar, plans to lobby for Suu Kyi’s release, political reconciliation

UN chief to lobby Myanmar for Suu Kyi’s release

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ventured into talks with Myanmar’s junta chief Friday for what he called “a very tough mission” to win freedom for the country’s opposition leader.

Shortly after the U.N. chief arrived in Myanmar, the court presiding over Aung San Suu Kyi’s widely criticized trial announced an adjournment until July 10. The trial had been set to resume Friday after a monthlong delay with her final defense witness taking the stand.

If Ban is allowed to meet with the 64-year-old Nobel Peace Laureate, he will be the first U.N. secretary-general to do so since her first period of detention started in 1989. U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said earlier this week that Ban would push to meet her in person.

Shortly after his arrival, Ban flew to Naypyitaw, Myanmar’s remote administrative capital, where he met with the junta leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, in an ornate reception hall with a collonaded walkway and an indoor waterfall.

“I’d like to appreciate your commitment to move your country forward … and I’d like to contribute, to work together for peace and prosperity,” Ban told the general as their talks began.

Earlier in Yangon, the commercial capital, Ban told reporters it would be “a very tough mission.”

“I will try my best. I will convey the concern of the international community and the United Nations,” he said.

Senior U.N. officials traveling with Ban called the trip a “highly risky” one for the secretary-general, whose image would suffer if the junta ignores his demands — as it has repeatedly shunned global calls in the past for democratic reforms.

Suu Kyi is charged with violating the terms of her house arrest when an uninvited American man swam secretly to her lakeside home in May and stayed for two days. She has pleaded not guilty and faces five years in prison if convicted.

The trial has sparked outrage from world leaders, Hollywood celebrities, other Nobel laureates and human rights groups who say the military-controlled government is using the bizarre incident as an excuse to keep Suu Kyi behind bars through elections scheduled for 2010. Suu Kyi has been in detention for nearly 14 of the last 20 years.

“I’m going to argue for the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi,” Ban told reporters late Thursday in Singapore, adding that he plans to “raise her case directly” with Than Shwe. Ban is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein.

He was also scheduled to meet ethnic minority groups and leaders of political parties including senior members of Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, who were driven to Naypyitaw on Thursday, government officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the itinerary.

Ban had previously said his talks would focus on “three of the most important issues for the future of Myanmar.” They are gaining the release of all political prisoners including Suu Kyi; resumption of dialogue between the military government and its opposition; and creating conditions for credible elections.

Suu Kyi told her lawyers during a two-hour meeting Thursday that “these three issues are very important” and reiterated that national reconciliation is key to solving the country’s problems.

Suu Kyi is being detained at Myanmar’s notorious Insein Prison, as is 53-year-old John William Yettaw of Falcon, Missouri, the intruder who is charged with trespassing.

Her trial was delayed for a month while lawyers appealed the court’s decision to ban three key witnesses, one of whom was reinstated by an appeals court.

Defense witness Khin Moe Moe — a lawyer and member of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy — was due to testify Friday. But the presiding judge told lawyers that the case file had not yet been returned by the appeals court that had ruled to reinstate the witness, said attorney Nyan Win.

Suu Kyi’s supporters fear that Suu Kyi will be found guilty because the courts are under the influence of the ruling junta and usually mete out harsh punishment for political dissidents.

Suu Kyi’s opposition party won national elections in 1990, but Myanmar’s generals refused to relinquish power. Her latest six-year round of house arrest was to expire last month.

Human Rights Watch urged Ban to make the trip “meaningful” after years of failed U.N. attempts to win Suu Kyi’s freedom and promote democratic reforms. Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962.

“Time and again, the U.N. has politely requested Aung San Suu Kyi’s release, but her ‘release’ back to house arrest would be a huge failure,” Kenneth Roth, the executive director of Human Rights Watch said in a statement. “He should make it clear that the time for stalling and playing games is over and that real change is needed now.”