YANGON, (Reuters) – A court in army-ruled Myanmar sentenced opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to 18 months in detention, a verdict that drew condemnation abroad and will keep her off the political stage ahead of next year’s elections.
The court handed down a three-year prison term for violation of an internal security law on Tuesday. But that was immediately halved on the orders of the military government, which said the 64-year-old Nobel peace laureate could serve the time in her Yangon home.
Myanmar’s home minister, Major-General Muang Oo, told the court moments after the verdict it had taken into account that Suu Kyi was the daughter of Myanmar independence hero Aung San as well as “the need to preserve community peace and tranquillity” as the country prepares for multiparty elections next year.
The verdict drew criticism from leaders around the world. Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown called it “monstrous.” French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it was “brutal and unjust.”
The U.S. State Department spokesman called the charges against Suu Kyi “spurious” and President Barack Obama said the conviction violates universal principles of human rights. Obama also called for Suu Kyi’s immediate release.
The 27-country European Union is preparing sanctions against Myanmar, also known as Burma, that include restricting trade with state-owned firms and barring top junta officials from entering the bloc, Sweden said.
Sarkozy said the measures “should particularly target the resources it profits directly from — wood and ruby mining.”
