Lawyers for Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s pro-democracy opposition leader, have launched an appeal against the extension of her house arrest.
Suu Kyi was judged last month for violating the terms of her detention. She had allowed uninvited John Yettaw, a US man, into her home. The court sentenced Suu Kyi to a further 18 months under house arrest while Yettaw was given a seven year sentence. However, thanks to the intervention of a visiting US senator, he was freed.
Ms Suu Kyi’s detention means she cannot take part in elections next year.
“We submit the appeal because the judgment against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was wrongful,” one of her lawyers, Nyan Win, said. Daw is a Burmese term of respect for a woman.
According to Nyan Win, the divisional court in Rangoon will decide on Friday whether to hear the appeal.
He already said that the lawyers would appeal to the High Court if the divisional court does not accept this appeal.
International condemnation
During her trial, Suu Kyi’s lawyers argued that she was not guilty and that the law she was being tried under had been superseded by a new constitution approved in a controversial referendum last year.
“Altogether there are 11 reasons for the appeal, but the main thing we will point out is about the constitution,” her chief lawyer Kyi Win said.
Her conviction was “not in accordance with the law”, he added.
Widespread international condemnation followed her sentencing to a further term of house arrest in August.
In the past 20 years, Aung San Suu Kyi, 64, spent almost 14 years in detention.
Although her National League for Democracy won the last elections in 1990, the party was never allowed to take power.
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