Aung San Suu Kyi Portrait by Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey, the artist best known for the President Obama "Hope" poster, created this terrific portrait of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

“This Human Rights cause is something I believe in strongly,” said Fairey. “I created this portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi to raise awareness of her on-going house arrest and the oppressive nature of the military regime ruling Burma.”

“Aung San Suu Kyi is the Nelson Mandela of Asia,” said Jack Healey, the head of the Human Rights Action Center. “Shepard’s tribute to her will remind the world she is the rightful leader of Burma in a powerful way. I always felt it was his image that galvanized the Obama movement, God willing, it will do the same for Aung San Suu Kyi and those fighting for human rights in her name.”

Concerns About Suu Kyi's Health

Aung San Suu Kyi's health is a cause for "grave concern," according to her organization, the National League for Democracy (NLD). She is on trial for violating the terms of her house arrest after an uninvited American man visited her home. Suu Kyi is suffering from cramping in her legs.

Ms Suu Kyi, who is being kept in Rangoon's notorious Insein prison, has suffered from ill-health in the past.

Shortly before her arrest on 14 May she was treated for dehydration and low blood pressure.

The NLD said she was "in desperate need of proper medical treatment".

"We are very much concerned about her health," it said in a statement.

Mark Canning, the British Ambassador to Burma, has been posting his observations about the trial. In his latest post he writes:

Suu Kyi has repeatedly made clear her willingness to work with the military government in a process of political reconciliation. She is viewed by them as a threat. But she's actually an opportunity, to the extent that she's declared herself willing to work with them towards the sort of future that the current direction of travel will never deliver.

ASEAN Urged to Suspend Burma

Politicians from Southeast Asian are urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to suspend Burma's membership if it refuses to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Charles Chong, a Singaporean lawmaker and member of the caucus, told journalists in Bangkok that dealing with Burma has bogged down ASEAN, making it harder for them to accomplish anything.

"More and more parliamentarians within ASEAN are beginning to lose their patience with Burma. And, we are calling upon our governments to do more than just expressions of dismay, regret, grave concern and so on, and seriously look at suspending Burma's membership of ASEAN," he said.

Suu Kyi Trial: Diplomats Barred

Just one day after Burmese authorities allowed diplomats to be present at democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's trial, they reversed their decision and barred international observers.

Suu Kyi at Trial

Diplomats and journalists have been permitted to observe the trial of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (Previous posts on the charges are here and here.) UK ambassador Mark Canning spoke to BBC about the trial.

"She was composed, upright, crackling with energy," he said. "Very much in charge of her defence team."

Afterwards, she spoke briefly to diplomats to welcome their presence and say she hoped she would meet them in better times, he said.

She then held a separate meeting with three foreign officials: the ambassador of Singapore - the longest serving envoy in Burma - and representatives from Russia, which currently chairs the UN Security Council, and Thailand.

Ms Suu Kyi told the officials that she and her two housekeepers were being treated well and that "it was not too late for something good to come out of this unfortunate incident", Singapore's foreign ministry reported.

Mr Canning said it was not clear whether access to the trial would continue.

"I think this is a story where the conclusion is already scripted," he said.

"I don't have any confidence in the outcome. While the access we had today was very welcome, it doesn't change the fundamental problem."

(Image from BBC story.)

News Roundup

Graduation was this past weekend so blogging has been slow! Here are some quick updates:

Tamil Tigers Admit Defeat

1.4 Million People Displaced in Swat Valley, according to the UN

Burmese Democracy Leader Aung San Suu Kyi goes to trial

Darfur Rebel Commander Faces International Criminal Court

Nigerian Civilians Trapped as Army Takes on Rebels

A roundup on the Indian elections

I'll be back to the regular blogging schedule soon!

Suu Kyi of Burma Taken to Prison

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been taken to jail and will be tried for violating the conditions of her house arrest. An American man swam across a lake to visit her in her home; he faces charges as well.

BBC has a short profile with background on Ms. Suu Kyi. (The image above is from the profile.)

Burmese Pro-Democracy Leader to Face Unspecified Charges

A spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) said she and her maids would face charges in connection with an uninvited visit from an American, John Yettaw, who swam across a lake to visit her home. Ms. Suu Kyi, a Nobel Laureate, is 63 years old and has been under house arrest for most of the last 19 years.

"We think she will be charged under Article 22 of the state protection act. It [the government] is likely to accuse her that she violates the restrictions enforced under this law. We will definitely defend that she does not violate the restrictions," the NLD spokesman told the BBC's Burmese Service.

"We heard, once she is formally charged she will not be sent back to her residence," he added.

Aid to Burmese Cyclone Victims Falls Short

As the one-year anniversary of Cyclone Nargis approaches, the needs of victims are still not being met.

David Verboom, regional head of the European Commission's European Humanitarian Aid department, said Thursday that Burma's political situation undermines international donor support.

"It is clear the political environment of course is a hindrance for many donors to contribute ... that is quite clear," he said.

Burma's military government was accused of restricting international aid right after the cyclone. Only intervention from the United Nations and regional governments led the government to give aid workers access to the hardest-hit areas.

"From the international community side it is fair to say that support has been limited. Much more could have been done," he said.

Verboom notes that international aid after the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 totaled $12 billion. After Nargis, in which a similar number of people died, only about $300 million was given.