Yangon, Jan 18: Military-ruled Myanmar on Thursday accused
detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi of tax evasion for
asking her family to spend money she received outside of
Myanmar.
The official new light of Myanmar newspaper also accused
the Nobel peace laureate of accepting money from foreign
spies, and insisted that she was not a political prisoner.
The rebuke came less than a week after the veto of a
US-led United Nations Security Council resolution urging
democratic reform and the release of political prisoners here.
"She avoided paying taxes to the state by asking her
family members abroad to spend all her cash awards provided by
international organisations and honorariums presented for her
works she had created abroad, instead of spending the money in
the country," the paper said.
The official newspaper also accused Aung San Suu Kyi of
receiving USD 85,000 from a foreign spy organisation, which
channelled money "through the absconders and terrorist groups
in exile whom she was keeping in touch with."
"It was very considerate of the (Myanmar) government to
put only restrictions on her, instead of punishing her in
accordance with the law," it added.
"In reality, there is no political prisoner in Myanmar
who faces legal action for political offence," the paper said.
"Action has been taken against offenders only, and the
persons who have violated the existing laws and disturbed the
peace, stability and security of the state," it said.
The United Nations estimates that there are more than
1,100 political prisoners in Myanmar, which has been ruled by
the military since 1962.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, January 18, 2007, 00:00