Monday, February 15, 2010

Quintana seeks details of Daw Suu's trial

 
Tuesday, 16 February 2010 00:45 Sai Zuan Sai

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - UN special envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana sought details about Daw Aung Suu Kyi's trial, where she was tried for harbouring an American citizen - John Yettaw, her lawyer Kyi Win said.

Her lawyers Kyi Win, Nyan Win, Hla Myo Myint and Khin Htay Kywe met the UN special envoy at the Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Hotel in Rangoon today at 2:30 p.m. The meeting lasted about an hour.

"He asked us about the trial. We gave him a rundown on the court judgment, her prison sentence, how we prepared to file revision and appeal cases against the judgment. And he studied the case from the human rights point of view," lawyer Kyi Win told Mizzima.

Mr. Quintana also showed keen interest about practicing law in Burma and about the judiciary.

The UN special envoy arrived in Burma this morning and met Rangoon based UN officials, diplomats and Justice Thaung Nyunt.

Mr. Quintana will depart for Sittwe and Maungdaw in Rakhine State tomorrow and will stay for two days, it is learnt.

On his wanting to meet Daw Aung Suu Kyi, the UN spokesman in Rangoon said, "We don't know anything about the meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi yet. Mr. Quintana asked for permission to meet her".

Though the UN special envoy met some Rangoon based diplomats today, he has not yet met the British ambassador to Burma, Second Secretary Ms. Jones from the British embassy in Rangoon said.

"Mr. Quintana has not yet met the British ambassador. He plans to meet the ambassador before leaving for Bangkok. But confirmation is awaited," she said.

"We will discuss the four-point submission he made last year," Ms. Jones added.

Mr. Quintana made a four-point submission to the Burmese military regime during his visit last year ---reviewing domestic laws, which restrict the fundamental rights of citizen, releasing all political prisoners before the general elections, conducting human rights education in the army and an independent judiciary in Burma.

He will submit his report based on his findings, observations and conclusions during this visit.