Suu Kyi seeking gain from consul death: Media<\/p>\n
YANGON (Reuter): Myanmar's state newspapers accused democracy
\nleader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday of trying to gain politically
\nfrom the death in prison last month of a former honorary consul
\nfor a number of European countries.<\/p>\n
James Leander Nichols, an unaccredited representative for
\nDenmark, Finland, Norway and Switzerland, died in prison on June
\n22. Differing accounts say he died of a heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n
He was arrested in April and sentenced to three years in jail
\nfor operating home telephones and fax machines without
\npermission.<\/p>\n
The New Light of Myanmar newspaper described as a \"stunt\" Suu
\nKyi's attendance at Nichols' funeral on June 28 and said she
\n\"created a situation merely to assemble a crowd...in order to
\nmake political gain\".<\/p>\n
\"The wit and scheme of the West Maidawgyi (Suu Kyi) is so good
\nthat she can derive benefit out of a funeral,\" it said, using a
\nsarcastic term to refer to the 50-year-old Nobel Peace Prize
\nwinner.<\/p>\n
\"The person who wants to make political gain out of a corpse
\nis really foolish.\"<\/p>\n
Diplomats and opposition sources believe Nichols was jailed
\nbecause of his close links with Suu Kyi and her National League
\nfor Democracy (NLD) party.<\/p>\n
The New Light of Myanmar, calling Nichols a \"bad-hat\" who
\nlived a decadent life-style and supported Suu Kyi generously,
\nsaid he died of natural causes.<\/p>\n
\"No one can prevent death when a person meets his fate. No
\nambassadors of any kind can plead with death...It is also
\nnecessary to understand that the United Nations cannot use a veto
\npower to stop his death,\" it said.<\/p>\n
The newspaper said Nichols had been treated well in prison and
\nenjoyed \"luxury\", publishing a detailed list of the food he had
\nbeen brought.<\/p>\n
\"There were even persons who fanned him and massaged him and
\nhe had nothing to worry about small errands and no one punched
\nhim, because the bundle brought to him by those visiting him was
\nrather big,\" the paper said.<\/p>\n
The newspaper gave an account of how Nichols collapsed in his
\nprison cell and was taken to the prison hospital and later to
\nYangon General Hospital where he died.<\/p>\n
A member of Nichols' family said on Tuesday a memorial service
\nwas still being arranged but no date had yet been fixed.<\/p>\n
Suu Kyi was released from prolonged house arrest one year ago
\ntoday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Thai Foreign Minister Amnuay Viravan said on Monday
\nthat Southeast Asia's policy of constructive engagement with
\nMyanmar would not be abandoned even though it may not have
\nproduced expected results,<\/p>\n
Amnuay said Myanmar's southeast Asian neighbors needed to
\nredouble their efforts to exert a constructive influence on
\nMyanmar. \"We believe that although ASEAN's constructive policy
\nmay be viewed by many to have not produced the kind of results
\nthat most people expect, it only means that we have to redouble
\nour efforts, make it more constructive,\" he told the Foreign
\nCorrespondents Club of Thailand on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"Certainly we are not entertaining the question of
\ndisengaging, or isolating our neighbors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The seven-member ASEAN has been criticized by Myanmar's
\nopposition for focusing on boosting business links with Yangon
\nwhile failing to nudge it towards dialogue on political reform
\nand reconciliation with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.<\/p>\n
Myanmar is expected to become an official ASEAN observer at
\nthis month's ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting in Jakarta and is
\nlikely to become a full member of the grouping by the end of the
\ndecade.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/suu-kyi-seeking-gain-from-consul-death-media-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}