Suu Kyi verdict postponed

The court trying Myanmar’s pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi has put off giving a verdict until August. She has been on trial since May, accused of violating the terms of her house arrest, and she told lawyers she was expecting a lengthy jail-term to be handed down today (Friday).

Critics believe the case was trumped up by the military regime in what used to be known as Burma to keep her behind bars during planned elections next year. She was charged after American intruder John Yettaw swam across a lake and spent two nights uninvited at her house. He is facing jail too. Aung San Suu Kyi’s pro-democracy party won elections in 1988 but never came to power because the army seized control. For 14 of the last 20 years, she’s been in detention, much of that time under house arrest. There have been repeated international calls for the 64 year old to be released, including an appeal from the UN Secretary General. There was no immediate explanation for the adjournment.

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