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MANILA, Philippines – Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed a resolution condemning the new charges that the Myanmar junta filed against opposition leader and democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
Santiago said in Senate Resolution 1078 that the charges, which stemmed from an alleged violation of the terms of Suu Kyi’s house arrest, violated human rights and international law.
“This is clearly a case of harassment since the elections in Myanmar is next year. The military government of Myanmar is trying to hold on to the reins of power by any means possible,” Santiago said in a statement on Tuesday.
In March 2005, Santiago also filed Senate Resolution 191, saying Myanmar should not assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2006 unless it frees Suu Kyi and allows her party to participate in the elections.
The Senate unanimously adopted the resolution on April 18, 2008.
The junta continues to defy Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by continuing to hold Suu Kyi in detention.
“Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrest and detention are in violation of the UDHR, ICCR [International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights] and Myanmar’s “Roadmap for Democracy’ program,” Senate Resolution 1078 read.
“Wherefore, let it be expressed as the sense of the Senate to condemn the criminal charges brought by the Myanmar government against Aung San Suu Kyi ,” it read.
