Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO)

Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision against Aung San Suu Kyi

1. The Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has filed an appeal with the Burma’s Supreme Court against lower courts’ decisions that she was convicted on charges of violating the State Protection Act. On February 26, the Supreme Court rejected her appeal in favor of lower courts’ decisions. In the Burmese judicial system, the second trial at the Supreme Court is allowed. Therefore, this decision does not entirely mean that she was convicted, but there would be extremely difficulty in both expecting a transparent trial in the future and overturning the guilty decision.
   It is clear that the prosecution of Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese military regime intends to prolong her detention ahead of the upcoming general election. In addition, this prosecution was based on the 1974 Constitution which was no longer in effect. In that respect, the prosecution is called into question of its legitimacy.
   RENGO denounces the rejection of her appeal and strongly calls for the immediate release of Aun San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma as well.
   
   
2. RENGO held a symposium to promote democracy in Burma together with organizations of Burmese community in Japan on November 23, 2009. At its closing, toward realizing democracy in Burma, we confirmed our determinations to immediately release Aung San Suu Kyi along with the other 2,100 political prisoners, to engage in serious dialogue with the military regime with the full participation of all involved parties including NLD (National League for Democracy) officials and ethnic minority groups, and to amend the 2008 Constitution essentially. Meanwhile, ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) organized the “ITUC Burma Conference 2010 in Tokyo” on 11-12 February. At the conference with a large number of trade union representatives from across the world, trade unions adopted the statement to strengthen international trade union movements.
   
   
3. The Burmese military regime has announced it would hold the general election in the coming October. It will be the first step toward democratic election to have dialogue in the true sense under the condition of Aung San Suu Kyi’s release. RENGO will make efforts to further promote a campaign for democracy in Burma, by calling on the Japanese government in collaboration with ITUC, FTUB (Federation of Trade Unions - Burma), the Burma Office Japan which is supported by RENGO, organizations of Burmese community in Japan, the Japanese Diet Members' League for Support of Democratization in Myanmar, and human rights NGOs.