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Obama calls for Aung San Suu Kyi's release

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-12 03:21

U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday called for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi, who was sentenced to 18 months under house arrest by a Myanmar court.

"The conviction and sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi today ( Tuesday) on charges related to an uninvited intrusion into her home violate universal principles of human rights, run counter to Burma's commitments under the ASEAN charter, and demonstrate continued disregard for UN Security Council statements," Obama said in a statement.

"I join the international community in calling for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate unconditional release," he added.

The statement was released after the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council commuted Aung San Suu Kyi's sentence to 18- month confinement to her residence after a district court sentenced her three years' jail term for violating terms of house arrest by inviting an American to visit her house.

Obama called on the Myanmar government "to heed the views of its own people and the international community and to work towards genuine national reconciliation."

He also expressed concerns on the sentencing of an American citizen, John Yettaw, who has been sentenced seven years in prison for swimming in May to the back door of Aung San Suu Kyi's home and staying there for two nights due to his ill health.

The punishment on Yettaw was "out of proportion with his actions," Obama said.