High Court rejects appeal over Suu Kyi’s defense witnesses

by Salai Pi Pi

Monday, 29 June 2009 17:24

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Burma’s High Court on Monday rejected an appeal by legal counsels to reinstate two allegedly key defense witnesses in the ongoing trial of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Nyan Win, a lawyer of Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi – who is being charged for allegedly violating the terms of her previous house arrest – said the High Court had rejected a final appeal for the reinstatement of the remaining two defense witnesses, Tin Oo and Win Tin, who were earlier disqualified by a lower court in Insein prison. “The High Court announced the rejection at 10:00 a.m. today,” Nyan Win told Mizzima on Monday. However, Nyan Win said he was as yet unaware of any justification given for the verdict. The trial against Aung San Suu Kyi has sparked global and domestic outrage along with repeated calls for her release. Originally, only one of four defense witnesses was accepted by the court sitting in Insein prison. However, upon request of the defense team the Rangoon Divisional Court allowed a second defense witness – Khin Moh Moh – to testify, while still rejecting both Win Tin and Tin Oo. On June 24, the High Court heard arguments by defense lawyers to allow the remaining two defense witnesses to testify. The special court in Insein prison on Friday adjourned the hearing of the testimony of the second defense witness until July 3. Nyan Win said because of the ruling by the High Court the defense team is forced to confront several weaknesses in its case defending Aung San Suu Kyi. “By rejecting the defense witnesses, around whom we had prepared to defend Aung San Suu Kyi, we our not fully enjoying the rights to defense ourselves,” Nyan Win added. < Prev   Next >