MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has strongly condemned yesterday’s sentencing of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Mr Martin said the verdict confirmed the junta’s determination to continue its rule without regard for the will of the Burmese people and in blatant disregard of the demands of the international community.
“The conviction of Aung San Suu Kyi serves only one purpose and that is to exclude her from participating in the elections scheduled for next year in Burma,” said Mr Martin.
Fine Gael spokesman on foreign affairs Billy Timmins said the sentence imposed on Ms Suu Kyi was entirely politically motivated.
“Severe economic sanctions have already been imposed on Burma and continued diplomatic pressure through the EU and the UN is critical to ensuring Ms Suu Kyi’s release,” he said.
The Labour Party was also critical of the sentencing, which it described as “farcical”.
“It is up to bodies such as the European Union to put pressure on regional neighbours to exclude Burma from international and local diplomacy,” said Michael D Higgins, the party’s spokesman on foreign affairs.
The Oireachtas foreign affairs committee called on the EU to act “swiftly and decisively” against the ruling.
“The committee fully backs the EU’s initial pledge to respond with targeted measures against those responsible for the verdict and supports its promise to reinforce restrictive measures targeting the regime in Burma, including economic interests,” said committee chairman Dr Michael Woods.
“The EU must use its influence to let Burma’s rulers know that their treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi is totally unacceptable.”
The Green Party also condemned the sentencing and called on Mr Martin to redouble efforts to secure Ms Suu Kyi’s release.
Burma Action Ireland is to stage a demonstration at the Dublin embassies of four of the permanent UN Security Council member states today in protest at yesterday’s verdict.
Protesters will meet at the US embassy in Ballsbridge at 3.30pm, before moving on to the French, British and Chinese embassies.
