No, they changed from Slorc (State Law and Order Restoration Council) to SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) 12 years ago. Which is a shame, because Slorc is a great villain name.
I don’t think the junta has to worry about getting press. They do seem to want at least a veneer of propriety, even if it’s only in their mind. They can at least say: “Well, we did it according to our laws. We don’t know what else you could want.”
They may even believe this themselves. The junta’s attitude is a traditional one among leaders in Burma. The old Siamese courts were the same way. They say the best thing that ever happened to Thailand was Burma sacking the old Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya in 1767, bringing to an end the 400-year-old monarchy and evaporating Siamese society. They didn’t look at it like such a good thing, of course, but it forced the move to the present-day Bangkok area and eventually into the modern world. Before the sacking, you could be beheaded just for having an accidental glimpse of the king! (You could, too in the early Bangkok era, but that soon ended. Probably never would have if they’d remained in Ayutthaya.)
Update here.
The american, Yettaw, seems to be claiming he had a dream or vision Suu Kyi would be assassinated and wanted to help her. Friggin’ nut case if that’s true, but I still think he was duped somehow. Still a nut even if so. We get them all over here, I’ll tell ya.
In broadcast reports, the junta has been making the bizarre statement that they were really just about to let her go, honestly they were, but then this came up and so gosh darn it, wouldn’t you know, they have to detain her some more until it gets cleared up. Yeah, right.
They’re trying to recalculate the formula used to determine length of house arrest. While they should have freed her a year ago, they’re now claiming they could hold her another 6 months or 18 months, depending on the report you hear, based on the new formula.
64 for Aung San Suu Kyi. Started for her 64th birthday next month.
That American, Yettaw, testified he saw police watching him swim across the lake. They did not shoot but did throw rocks. ??? Whatever, the defense is using that to show the police allowed this to happen. Not that it will do any good.
I’ve been hearing a verdict may be handed down as early as tomorrow (Friday). Seems also they’re relenting a bit and allowing her more than one witness in her defense.
No Friday verdict after all this week. Trial to resume next Friday. Short update here.
Trial postponed again, for two more weeks. Will resume June 26. Story here.
And Aung San Suu Kyi turned 64 yesterday (Friday). Update here.
International pressure has seemed to have done some good. Originally, it was widely taken for granted that her trial would be over and done with quickly, but the generals seem to have had second thoughts about that, what with the uproar. Still, the real reaond they’re extending the trial and allowing more defense witnesses is to create the illusion that it’s a fair one. No one expects anything less than a prison sentence for her. The generals are bound and determined to lock her up.
And her trial has been postponed further, with no explanation. Story here. Could have something to do with the UN secretary-general visiting, but he’s such a limp rag, no one can be sure.
The word is, however, that the junta has been somewhat surprised by the extent of the global outrage, so keep it up. Speculation is they’re hoping for it to die down eventually, then they’ll quietly (they hope) resume the trial. But they’re such a cipher, no one knows anything for sure.
And UN Limp Dishrag Ban Ki-moon has been denied permission to see Aung San Suu Kyi. See here.
How much of this treatment is she bringing on herself? I mean, if she willing to say, publicly, “I was wrong in opposing the SPDC, they’re the legitimate government of Myanmar, and everyone should stop complaining about them. I’m now going to go into retirement and never make any public statements again in my life”, do you think they’d let her go?
I’d say there would be a better chance of George Bush announcing his membership in al-Qaeda than Suu Kyi doing any such thing. But I don’t think she’s “bringing on” anything herself, and I find such a supposition bizarre, to say the least.
Bizarre how? She’s chosen to defy the government and break Burmese law. I’m not saying she’s not morally right to do so, but having done it, she’s chosen to put herself in opposition to a government that has no regard for the rights of its opponents, and what sort of treatment can she or her supporters expect?
Her landslide win in the 1990 elections is universally recognized. It’s the junta who is breaking the law. They break Burmese law every day, through murder and various other illegal activities not to mention throwing out the 1990 election results simply because they lost. She’s the victim here.
Maybe, but they’re the ones with the guns and the willingness to use them, so they’re the ones that are making the laws.
Oh, might makes right. I see. So if you have the guns, you can wrest control of a country with no problem and expect everyone to suck it up and like it. Mm-hmm.
Side Note: Her present house arrest, about 5 years now, stems from her legal and peaceful campaign activities. It was not even a case of civil disobedience. She was on a campaign trip upcountry when a band of goons, employed by the junta presumably, attacked her convoy. The junta declared it was her fault for disturbing the peace and so the present house arrest. She had done nothing to violate the law; the junta was reacting to her obvious continued popular support, staged the incident and again cancelled upcoming elections.
In fact, I can’t think of any laws off the top of my head she ever has broken, not even for civil disobedience. Like this American clown who swam to her home and refused to leave, which is what she’s on trial for now. She never invited him in. I suppose she did break the law by not calling the police and reporting him, but that’s about the extent of any illegal activities on her part I can think of.
I didn’t say might makes right. The person who’s on the morally right side here is Suu Kyi, obviously. What I’m saying is, the day she decided to form the National League for Democracy and resist the junta that took over the country is the day she signed her death warrant. She chose to resist, knowing that resistance would mean her imprisonment and probably her death.
Anyway, her trial has resumed and is nearing an end. Story here. Closing arguments scheduled for July 24.
Looks like closing arguments ended yesterday (Monday). A verdict is expected in a week or two. Update here.