4 UN experts to Myanmar: Free Aung San Suu Kyi

(philstar.com) Updated August 12, 2009 05:31 PM
GENEVA (AP) -- Four UN-appointed human rights experts say Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi should be immediately released.

The global body's investigators for arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, human rights defenders and human rights in Myanmar say the Nobel Peace laureate was convicted by Myanmar's military junta in a "baseless trial" meant only to exclude her from elections next year.

Suu Kyi was found guilty Tuesday of violating her house arrest by allowing an uninvited American to stay at her home. The confinement was extended by 18 months.

The UN experts said Tuesday the court was biased, the charges lacked substance and the trial was illegal.

The experts are El Hadji Malick Sow; Frank La Rue Lewy; Margaret Sakaggya; and Tomas Ojea Quintana.