Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
August 2, 2003:

Janelle Saffin Convenor of the Burma/Myanmar Sub Committee of the
Australian Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ASICJ)
challenged military strong man Gen Than Shwe to deny the allegation that he
is planning to charge Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi with
'treason'.

The streets of Rangoon are alive with this coming from trusted sources
close to the military junta's State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC), and the usual tactic of trying to force people to sign declarations
that Aung San Suu Kyi and others were involved in "acts" that are
offences against the state, and General Than Shwe's mission to convince
neighbours that the events of the 30th May were caused by her," said Ms
Saffin in a statement. "The idea is preposterous, there is no evidence,
and no one believes him."

"The problem is that in military ruled Burma, the state is the Tatmadaw
cum SPDC, which is General Than Shwe; there is no separation in
practice or thinking, so any perceived threat to General Than Shwe is taken to
be an "act" against the state."

"To charge Aung San Suu Kyi with treason or a similar charge is so
unthinkable that it can't be true; surely even General Than Shwe could not
do this to the daughter of Burma's hero Bogyoke Aung San. He, Aung
San, would turn in his grave to think that his beloved Tatmadaw (Army)
could do this to his only daughter."

Ms Saffin stated that, "If General Than Shwe does this he alone will be
responsible for leading his country to destruction. Those who serve
him loyally as good military men and civil servants do will be led down
this path with him. What is needed now is for those with cooler heads
to use all persuasion to ensure that this does not happen."

"Aung San Suu Kyi is mentally prepared for any action no matter how
draconian, but is the country prepared for draconian action against them
if she and other leaders are charged with treason or similar."

The offence of treason is found in Burma's Penal Code, Sections
121-124, and the penalty is death or transportation. State sanctioned death
has not been carried out for some time in Burma, and where it has been
imposed as a sentence it has been commuted to lengthy prison terms.
Transportation is a hangover from the colonial days which the Acts in
Burma's thirteen volume codes are based on, but the fact is it is still on
the books.

"It is clear that General Than Shwe would love to see the last of Aung
San Suu Kyi but to forcibly remove her from the people by incarcerating
her for a long time or even thinking of removing her from her country
would bring internal outcry and international condemnation and the
intervention he so fears."

Ms Saffin continued, "That in informing a key regional and
international political actor of this 'allegation' he responded with incredulity
and the assurance that if this course of action was pursued by General
Than Shwe that is charging Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin U and others that the
only option left was to unseat General Than Shwe's State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) at the United Nations General Assembly.

"No body wants this and it is up to General Than Shwe to ensure that
this does not happen. He can exercise good sense and become part of the
solution as have others before him notably leaders from South Africa,
Indonesia, Thailand and others, by releasing Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin U
and others and committing to dialogue and a peaceful transition,"
concluded Ms Saffin.