Burma's Senior General Than Shwe faces a dilemma.

He desperately wants to keep his most influential opponent away from the Burmese public, yet he fears the uproar that will ensue if he keeps her locked up.

Than Shwe and his ruling generals have already procrastinated over Aung San Suu Kyi's latest trial. Most court hearings in Burma last a few days at most, but this one has been going on for more than two months.

Now they've stalled again, postponing the verdict until 11 August.

Unlike the other 2,000 political prisoners - whom the Burmese military seem to keep in jail without much thought for public opinion - it is evident that Burma's officials do not know what to do with this demure 64-year-old woman.

Revered and respected

Aung San Suu Kyi is not an ordinary prisoner. As the daughter of Burma's independence hero General Aung San, she was always going to command people's respect.

But as the rightful winner of the country's last democratic elections in 1990 - which the military refused to recognise - she gained credibility in her own right.

John Yettaw's nocturnal swim gave the junta the pretext they wanted

By imprisoning her for so long, the junta has unwittingly given her even more symbolic significance in the eyes of Burmese people.

"An aura has built up around her," said Maung Zarni, a research fellow at the London School of Economics. "The public view her as the conscience of Burmese society."

It is especially important for the military generals that Aung San Suu Kyi is out of the way ahead of the next elections, which they plan to hold in early 2010.

The polls are widely seen as an attempt to legitimise the regime by increasing its democratic credentials.

But in order for this to work to its favour, the generals need to make sure their allies win.

In the 1990 elections, the military miscalculated in a big way - they were trounced by Ms Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy. This time they don't want to take any chances.

When an eccentric American swam to Ms Suu Kyi's lakeside house in his homemade flippers in May, he gave the generals the excuse they were looking for.

By accusing her of breaking the terms of her house arrest because she let her uninvited well-wisher stay the night, they finally had a reason to extend her detention and keep her safely locked away throughout the election process.

Risky strategy

But even if the junta find some tenuous legal reason to jail Ms Suu Kyi, or extend the terms of her house arrest, they know they will stoke intense public outrage.

The public view her as the conscience of Burmese society. Maung Zarni, Research fellow on Burma, London School of Economics

Keeping behind bars a woman who is not only a Nobel Peace Prize laureate but also the world's most famous political detainee is a high-risk strategy.

Burmese people will be angry and upset if she is found guilty, but according to Mung Pi, who runs a blog site for Burmese exiles, the government knows there is not much that people inside the country can actually do to change things.

"A guilty verdict probably won't lead to large street protests, because people are still suffering from 2007," he said.

In September 2007 large-scale demonstrations led by monks - the most revered sector of society - were brutally quashed by the military, and the opposition movement is still said to be recovering. The generals know that, right now, their opponents do not have the strength to fight back.

Than Shwe did not let Ban Ki-Moon meet Ms Suu Kyi on his trip to Burma

"The opposition movement has the moral backing of the people, but it's whoever controls the streets, not the moral high ground, who matters," said Maung Zarni.

Coping with the indignation of the international community, though, is a different matter.

On the surface, it seems that the Burmese generals are completely intransigent when it comes to the demands of the rest of the world.

They have ignored recent incentives from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and refused to let UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon meet Aung San Suu Kyi on a recent visit.

They also remain resolutely unswayed by the constant pleas from celebrities and protest marches.

But there are times when the junta does listen to the outside world.

It belatedly reacted to criticism of its handling of the devastating cyclone last year, letting in foreign aid after initially saying it could manage alone.

And if the military really was oblivious to international reaction, it would surely not have bothered to plan elections - no matter how flawed those elections might be.

Chinese influence

The lengthy delays in Aung San Suu Kyi's trial are another indication that the recalcitrant generals can sometimes be swayed by foreign influence.

"The regime wants to take its time because of the mounting pressure it's under," a diplomat in Rangoon told reporters.

The regime wants to take its time because of the mounting pressure it's under Western diplomat in Rangoon

It is still doubtful the military will take much notice of the West, though. The long years of EU and US sanctions mean that Burma has been thrown into the arms of China and Russia, as well as neighbouring Asian nations.

"When push comes to shove, they can afford to just ignore... what the West thinks. They're backed by China," said Justin Wintel, the author of a book on Aung San Suu Kyi.

And as long as they can rely on China and Russia to veto any major action by the UN Security Council, and their neighbours at the Asean regional forum to do little more than voice occasional disapproval, the generals probably feel there will be no serious ramifications to keeping Aung San Suu Kyi behind bars.

Which is ultimately why most analysts believe that Ms Suu Kyi will be found guilty; the negatives of having her free outweigh the positives.

But even if he does send her to jail, Than Shwe already knows that she is likely to remain his most potent opponent.

She may be out of sight, but someone as iconic as Aung San Suu Kyi will never be out of Burmese minds.

Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi 'guilty'

There have been international calls for Ms Suu Kyi's release

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to an additional 18 months' house arrest by a court in Rangoon.

Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate, was convicted of violating state security laws by allowing a US national into her lakeside home after he swam there.

Critics of Burma's military regime say the verdict is designed to prevent her from taking part in elections in 2010.

Ms Suu Kyi has spent nearly 14 of the past 20 years in detention.

American John Yettaw, who was also on trial, was jailed for seven years, four with hard labour.

Ms Suu Kyi, 64, was taken straight back to her home following the end of the trial, officials said.

ANALYSIS Kate McGeown, BBC News website Asia-Pacific editor The fact that the Burmese generals have decided to give Aung San Suu Kyi less than the maximum sentence shows they are willing to compromise, at least to some extent, to the will of the international community. But at the same time they still have what they really wanted - Aung San Suu Kyi will now be safely out of the way as they prepare for next year's elections.

The opposition leader had denied the charge but said she expected to be convicted.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "saddened and angry" by the verdict and described the trial as a "sham".

In a strongly worded statement, Mr Brown said it was "a purely political sentence".

A statement from the office of Nicolas Sarkozy said the French president was calling on the European Union to impose new sanctions on Burma.

The EU presidency said it would impose "additional targeted measures against those responsible for the verdict".

Myint Myint Aye, of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party, said it did not accept the verdict, adding: "We demand her immediate unconditional release and we will keep on pressing."

Tight security

Journalists had unexpectedly been allowed to enter the court in Rangoon's Insein prison shortly before the sentence was announced.

I am disappointed that they have found her guilty Anifah Aman, Malaysian Foreign Minister Reaction: Suu Kyi verdict

The courtroom was initially told that Ms Suu Kyi was sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour.

But after a five-minute recess, Burma's home minister entered the courtroom and read out a special order from the country's military ruler Than Shwe that reduced the sentence to 18 months and said it could be served under house arrest.

There was tight security around the prison, with security forces sealing off the area.

The trial has brought international condemnation, with critics accusing Burma's military government of trying to keep Ms Suu Kyi out of next year's planned multi-party elections.

Than Shwe reduced Ms Suu Kyi's sentence from three years

The NLD won the last elections in 1990 but was never allowed to take power.

Mr Yettaw, 54, swam to Ms Suu Kyi's lakeside house in Rangoon uninvited and stayed there for two nights in May.

As a result, Ms Suu Kyi was accused of breaching the terms of her house arrest.

Mr Yettaw, of Falcon, Missouri, is believed to have epilepsy, diabetes and post-traumatic stress disorder and has been treated at a Rangoon hospital.

He was sentenced to three years in prison for breaching Ms Suu Kyi's house arrest, three years with hard labour for an immigration offence and another one-year term with hard labour for swimming in a restricted zone.

It was not clear if the prison terms would be served concurrently.

Reports say he was discharged from hospital on Monday night after a week of treatment for epileptic seizures.

Obama backs Mexico's war on drugs

US President Barack Obama has given "strong support" to Mexico's war on drugs cartels, at the start of a summit in Guadalajara.
At talks with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, he also raised the issues of swine flu and a ban on Mexican lorries entering the United States.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined the two leaders for dinner.
On Monday, a three-way summit will be held, likely to focus on problems caused by the economic recession.
It will be President Barack Obama's first attendance at the annual meeting of North American leaders.
It has been dubbed the meeting of three amigos, but difficult issues divide the participants, says BBC Mexico correspondent Stephen Gibbs.
Mexico is currently experiencing what looks set to be its deepest recession since the 1930s.

Obama will discuss tough issues with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts
It is concerned that recent US moves, including a ban on Mexican truckers operating in the US, suggest protectionism and could worsen its economic situation, our correspondent says.
Mr Harper is expected to press Mr Obama to revise the Buy America policy on public works, which has hit Canadian exporters hard.
Mexico is also unhappy with Canada's decision to require visas from Mexican visitors to the country.
The threat of organised crime is something which is more likely to unite the leaders, our correspondent adds.
Drug violence, an acute problem in Mexico, is showing some signs of spilling over the border into the southern US.
It also a growing problem in parts of Canada. Mexico will be pressing the US to free up more of its promised $1.4bn (£840m) in aid to combat drug trafficking.

Kremlin bill on using army abroad

Kremlin bill on using army abroad

The bill says troops can be used to protect Russian citizens abroad
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has introduced a bill to parliament that would allow the country's armed forces to intervene beyond Russia's borders.
The bill would allow Russian troops to be used abroad "to rebuff or prevent an aggression against another state" or "protect Russian citizens abroad".
Mr Medvedev said the bill was linked to last year's war with Georgia over South Ossetia, Russia's Interfax reports.
Moscow said it was protecting Russian citizens in South Ossetia.
The war began on 7 August 2008, as Georgia tried to retake control of its breakaway region, following a series of clashes.
Russian forces quickly repelled the assault and pushed further into Georgia.
The conflict lasted for five days before a ceasefire was agreed. Russia pulled back, but built up its military presence in both South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia.
'Addressing issues'
On Monday, Mr Medvedev said the new bill was "linked to the well-known events that happened last year", according to Interfax.
"We very much hope that these events do not happen again but the issues need to be addressed," he said.
If approved, the bill would augment an existing law allowing the president to use Russian special military units abroad.
Under the law adopted by MPs in 2006, the president must notify lawmakers of any such operation, but the unit size, location and timing can be kept secret

Fight for the CPP and you may end up being ... unpaid

Disabled Soldiers Protest Absence of Pay

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
07 August 2009

More than 170 disabled former soldiers gathered in protest Friday against the provincial authorities of Banteay Meanchey, who they say have not paid them a raise in their monthly disability benefits.

All disabled soldiers in Cambodia receive monthly compensation of varying amounts depending on rank. Each of the 173 protesters in Banteay Meanchey should receive between 80,000 riel and 250,000 riel, about $20 to $62.

That amount includes a 20 percent bump provided by a directive from Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2008.

But soldiers say they are not seeing the raise in their monthly payments, and that those payments sometimes don’t arrive at all.

Choeung Chanthol, 48, who lost the use of his right arm fight the Khmer Rouge in Thmar Pouk district in 1988, told VOA Khmer the disabled soldiers needed the increase to their payment to cover the increased cost of living.

“Prime Minister Hun Sen provided us with an increase of 20 percent, so we must get it,” he said.

“We need the money, because we are very poor,” said Moeun Sak, 42, who is paralyzed in the left arm and leg. “We do not have any jobs, so we depend on the payment from the government.”

Oum Chantha, chief of Banteay Meanchey’s provincial cabinet, said Friday the authorities have received a request from the disabled soldiers and are working on the problem.

“We will not allow this problem for the disabled,” he said. “All the disabled must wait for the resolution from the provincial governor later this month.”

EU Marks Concern Over Freedom of Expression

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
07 August 2009

Three members of the European Union met with Foreign Ministry officials Friday to express their concerns over a recent deterioration of the human rights climate.

The EU, represented by British Ambassador, German Ambassador and the European Commission Charge d’Affairs, met with the ministry’s secretary of state, Ouch Borith, officials said.

The EU said it was concerned “specifically with regard to freedom of expression rule of law and the,” the British Embassy said in a statement.

“The EU expressed concern in this context over a number of instances in which criminal charges of defamation and disinformation have been used against representatives of civil society, the media and the political opposition,” the embassy said.

The EU has a rotating presidency, currently held by Sweden, but it is represented in Phnom Penh by the British Embassy.

Government and court officials are facing increased scrutiny after a raft of cases in the court that appear aimed at dissenters.

Respect for democratic principles and human rights “plays a central part in the political and development relationship between the EU and Cambodia,” the embassy said. “The EU noted that transparency, the rule of law, freedom of expression and open political debate are indisputable elements of democracy.”

One journalist has been jailed on defamation charges, another folded his newspaper to avoid the same, and two Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers, including Mu Sochua, were stripped of their immunity as they were sued in different cases for defamation.

Mu Sochua was fined more than $4,000 this week when she lost a suit to Prime Minister Hun Sen, who claimed she had defamed him by lodging a complaint in court over allegedly sexist remarks in a speech in April.

The EU representatives called on the government to take measures to ensure it was “conforming to its national and international commitments, including under the UN human rights instruments to which it is a party,” the embassy said.

Om Yentieng, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen and the head of the government’s human rights body, declined to comment, saying he had not yet seen the EU statement.

Former Khmer Rouge guard describes dumping corpses at Cambodia's Killing Fields

Monday, August 10, 2009By Sopheng CheangCanadian Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A former Khmer Rouge prison guard told a court Monday he was taken to Cambodia's notorious Killing Fields one afternoon 30 years ago and ordered to dump corpses into a mass grave.Chhun Phal, 47, said he did not count how many dead bodies he handled, but it took him and 11 other guards two hours to dispose of them."I was asked to bury the bodies," he said softly. "I managed to only fill one pit with dead bodies."The guards then dug two more pits to add to the hundreds of mass graves at Choeung Ek, more commonly known as the Killing Fields, on the outskirts of the capital, Phnom Penh, where thousands of the Khmer Rouge's victims were killed and their bodies dumped.Chhun Phal's testimony came at the trial of Kaing Guek Eav - better known as Duch - who headed the notorious S-21 prison in Phnom Penh. Up to 16,000 people were tortured under Duch's command and later taken to the Killing Fields during the Khmer Rouge's 1975-1979 rule. Only a handful survived.Duch is being tried by the genocide tribunal for crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder and torture. An estimated 1.7 million Cambodians died under the communist Khmer Rouge regime.Duch (pronounced DOIK) is the first senior Khmer Rouge figure to face trial and the only one to acknowledge responsibility for his actions. He is the first of five defendants scheduled for long-delayed trials, and his trial, which started in March, is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.Judges asked Duch (pronounced DOIK) if he recalled Chhun Phal and had anything to add to his testimony.Duch, 66, said he remembered Chhun Phal was about 15 when he assigned him to S-21. Duch said he chose him because he was young and came from a peasant family that was regarded as faithful to the Khmer Rouge."He fit my criteria," Duch told the court. "I did not want anyone who was already trained or educated. I selected people I could train psychologically and politically."Senior leaders Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary and Ieng Sary's wife, Ieng Thirith, are detained and are likely to face trial in the next year or two.