Press Release
May 19, 2009

MIRIAM URGES MYANMAR TO DROP SUU KYI CHARGES

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago decried the criminal charges filed by the Myanmar government against Aung San Suu Kyi for allegedly violating her house arrest, saying the charges are in violation of human rights and international law.

"This is clearly a case of harassment since the elections in Myanmar is next year. The military government of Myanmar is trying to hold on to the reins of power by any means possible," Santiago said.

Santiago filed a resolution Tuesday condemning the military regime's actions against Suu Kyi, citing violations in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The Philippine government has expressed its outrage over what it called the "trumped-up" charges against Suu Kyi, and called for Myanmar to carry out its "Roadmap for Democracy" program meant to release political detainees.

"One of the first resolutions I filed as senator is to call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from detention. I am particularly interested in her case as chair of the Senate foreign relations committee and a student of international law," Santiago said.

As Senate foreign relations committee chair, she previously rallied against Myanmar's chairmanship in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2006 for human rights violations.

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