Aung San Suu Kyi - a case of suspicious minds?

OK so I am a bit of a suspicious soul. When it comes to today’s trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, I can’t quite help thinking that the military junta in Burma have had more luck than is feasible.Just place yourself in the shoes of the leaders of the junta – not the easiest of tasks for your average Amnesty supporter but anyway, let’s go with it.Over the last few years, groups across the world have been putting you under pressure to stop you persecuting your own population – after all you’ve got over 2,000 political prisoners. And you are beginning to buckle.You’ve even set elections for 2010. OK so you changed the constitution to ensure a large number of the government departments will have to be headed up by military officials but there is still the vague chance that some of your opponents might gain some power. And to top that, the iconic leader of the democracy movement – the aforementioned Ms Aung San Suu Kyi – is due to be released from house arrest on 27 May. What bigger rallying cry could there be for your opponents? After all the last time you allowed free elections her party topped the poll with 70% of the vote.It’s crisis time. What can possibly save you?Step forward, American John Yettaw. According to The Guardian, John is a 53-year-old “nutty fellow” working on a “faith-based” book, who swam across a lake to get to Aung San Suu Kyi’s residence – conveniently breaking several of the conditions of her house arrest. As a consequence, Aung San Suu Kyi now faces a new trial and an almost certain renewal of her detention. Naturally, we at Amnesty have been quick to demand her immediate release. The BBC even highlighted one of our demos on their website today.Meanwhile, the Independent questions the legitimacy of the trial, while the Telegraph concerns itself over the upping of security while court proceedings are ongoing. And on a more serious note Joan Smith’s worries about Aung San Suu Kyi’s future well-being in her comment piece in The Independent on Sunday.It all looks pretty gloomy and, as I said before, all far too convenient for the Burmese military junta.