SINTESI - L'Unione Europea deplora l'accaduto e chiede con urgenza alle autorità birmane il rilascio della leader democratica e l'inizio di un processo di riconciliazione nazionale veramente condiviso e inclusivo.

Il Segretario Generale delle Nazioni Unite, Ban Ki-Moon, si dichiara seriamente preoccupato per la notizia dell'arresto di Aung San Suu Kyi ed afferma di credere che la leader democratica rimane una partner essenziale per il dialogo nel processo di riconciliazione nazionale in Birmania. 

Ban Ki-Moon chiede inoltre al governo birmano di non assumere nessun altro atto che possa minare questo importante processo.

Poco prima era intervenuto Tomas Ojea Quintana, Relatore Speciale per i Diritti Umani in Birmania, che ha ricordato come gli arresti domiciliari in cui si trovava Aung San Suu Kyi al momento dell'accaduto erano già essi stessi contrari alle norme internazionali e alla stessa legislazione birmana.

Quintana ha anche chiesto con forza che tutti 2156 prigionieri politici presente nel Paese siano liberati prima delle elezioni del 2010.

Prime proteste anche da parte dell'Italia: l'Ambasciatore Birmano a Roma è stato convocato al Ministero degli Affari Esteri per una protesta ufficiale. Lo ha riferito Margherita Boniver, inviato speciale del governo per le emergenze umanitarie, secondo CorrieredellaSera.it




Seguono i tre comunicati ufficiali:

UE - Declaration of the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

The EU deeply regrets that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League of Democracy,  and members of her household have been arrested and charged with breaching the terms of her detention, which the United Nations had determined violates international and national law.

It is especially striking that these events practically coincide with the expiry of her house arrest. The EU strongly urges Burma/Myanmar's authorities to release Aung San Suu Kyi and engage in an inclusive process of national reconciliation, which is essential for setting  Burma/Myanmar on a genuine path to stability and prosperity and initiate a new phase in the development of the country.


UNSG - Statement of the UN Secretary-General Read out today at the Secretary General's Spokesperson's noon briefing:

"The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the news that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to the Insein Prison to face criminal charges. The Secretary-General believes that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is an essential partner for dialogue in Myanmar’s national reconciliation and calls on the Government not to take any further action that could undermine this important process. 

As he has said repeatedly, the Secretary-General believes strongly that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all those who have a contribution to make to the future of their country must be free to be able to do so to ensure that the political process is credible.


UN - UN expert on Myanmar calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, expressed serious concern Thursday regarding the unlawful detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD), and called for her unconditional release.   

According to information received by Ojea Quintana, Aung San Suu Kyi and two aides were escorted this morning by security forces to Insein prison. 

They appeared before a special court and were charged under article 22 of the State Protection law. 

Their trial has been scheduled for 18 May 2009. They are currently detained in the Insein compound.   

The new charges are said to be in connection with the recent intrusion of an American citizen into the home of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for the past six years. “Since her house is well guarded by security forces, the responsibility for preventing such intrusions, and alerting the authorities, lies with the security forces and not with Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides,” Ojea Quintana said.  

Ojea Quintana said that Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention has been in contravention of Articles 9, 10 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as Myanmar’s own State Protection Law of 1975 under which she was initially charged in 2003, which allows for a maximum of five years’ detention – meaning she should have been released a year ago.

“I call on the Government of Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides unconditionally,” Ojea Quintana said. He added that in order to ensure national reconciliation and democratic transition, to which the Myanmar leadership has committed itself, all 2156 prisoners of conscience currently detained by the authorities should be released before the 2010 elections.