Britain's ambassador to Myanmar was prevented on Monday from seeing Aung San Suu Kyi who is under apparent house arrest again after her latest defiance of Myanmar's junta, the British Embassy said. Meanwhile, a government newspaper warned Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) that it owes its survival to the military authorities, who, it claimed, are protecting the NLD from the wrath of the people.
The NLD has received similar veiled threats in the past from the government, and the latest one appeared to justify the new round of restrictions on Suu Kyi and eight top party leaders, all of whom have been held incommunicado since Friday. The crackdown demonstrates the resolve of the government to silence the NLD despite the vehement western criticism it is facing and the brickbats it could receive in upcoming international meetings. There are many people who are losing patience and are itching to strike on a group of people loitering around stations, jetties and road corners. Knowing the situation, authorities have to take preventive measures to protect the NLD snakes, said an article in the language daily Kyemon on Monday.

A British Embassy spokesperson said that Ambassador John Jenkins was stopped outside Suu Kyi's house by security forces and told that he would not be allowed to see her. He was told that it was a temporary measure, the spokesperson said, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity. British diplomats who tried to visit Suu Kyi on Friday and Saturday also were turned away but they will continue to try to see her, the spokesperson said.
Bureau Report