Pro-Democracy Leader Continues To Defy Ban

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi defied the military government’s ban on her rallies for the second straight weekend, criticizing the law Saturday as she and about 4,500 supporters broke it.

The hourlong rally outside Suu Kyi’s home passed peacefully, without military intervention. It was held as two U.S. envoys wrapped up a six-nation visit to Asia to gauge regional response to the military crackdown in Burma.

The weekend gatherings defy a sweeping law announced June 7 that allows the military to confiscate the property of anyone deemed a threat to state stability and impose a jail sentence of up to 20 years.

The military has not moved to suppress the rallies, and Suu Kyi, 1991 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, has softened her attacks against the ruling generals who recently arrested 262 of her supporters.