The house arrest of Myanmar’s leading dissident Aung San Suu Kyi’s will continue, after the Supreme Court of Myanmar refused an appeal to shorten it. The current 18-month sentence extension was ordered after an uninvited American swam across a lake to Suu Kyi’s home, where Suu Kyi allowed him to stay.
The ruling comes months before Myanmar is set to adopt a new constitution and hold elections as part of a “road map” for a return to civilian rule.
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its disappointment over the verdict, and said that a dialogue among the Myanmar authorities, Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political groups ahead of this year’s elections would offer the best prospects for national reconciliation and the long-term political stability of Myanmar.
Myanmar Denies Dissident’s Appeal [New York Times, 26 Feb 2010]
Suu Kyi ruling ‘disappointing’ [Straits Times, 26 Feb 2010]
