As Myanmar’s military junta intensifies its crackdown on its opponents, the country’s police force has filed a new charge against the now-former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. According to her lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged with an extra [violation] … under the Natural Disaster Management law,” he explained. This comes shortly after the Myanmar military, also known as the Tatmadaw, took control of the government for one year and detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, alongside several members of parliament (MPs) from the ruling NLD and student leaders. The Tatmadaw alleges electoral fraud in the recently conducted election in November, when the NLD secured a landslide victory with 83% of the votes.
Although additional details on the latest charge and how it applies to Suu Kyi are not immediately available, it has reportedly been previously used to prosecute people who have violated the country’s coronavirus restrictions. Further, it also carries a maximum punishment of three years in prison. This is in addition to the previous violation of the Import and Export Law that charged Suu Kyi for the possession of “illegally” imported walkie-talkies that were not registered. It is being speculated that these charges may allow the military to detain the leader indefinitely and without a trial, especially since changes to the country’s Penal Code were made by the junta only last week. According to the Associated Press, the rule change allows for suspects to be detained indefinitely, without being formally charged by the court in certain cases.
In addition, party members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Suu Kyi’s legal team said that they have been unable to contact the leader since she was detained at her residence in Naypyitaw by the military. Following several calls for the release of Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, military spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told a press conference: “It’s not like they were arrested — they are staying at their houses.”
To make matters worse, the junta has also imposed a near-total shutdown of the country’s internet for the third straight day in a row, giving rise to speculation that a firewall system is being installed to curb future internet activity of citizens. These developments have resulted in thousands of protestors calling for her release, prompting the military to respond with rubber bullets and slingshots to disperse crowds.
Moreover, the events have also invited criticism from the international community. The United Kingdom’s (UK) Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, condemned the charges asking for the leader to be released. “The charges against Aung San Suu Kyi are politically motivated, and the latest example of the Myanmar military undermining democratically elected politicians,” he said. Raab’s statement further added: “The UK and like-minded nations will not ignore these violations. We will ensure those responsible are held to account.” The United States (US), who has already imposed sanctions on the country following the coup, also joined the UK in condemning the move and called it “a direct assault on the country’s transition to democracy and the rule of law”. In addition, Christoph Hoffmann, a German parliamentary member, criticized the European Union’s (EU) slow response to the coup and said that Germany and the EU must “impose an arms embargo against the military rulers in Myanmar and also restrict the country’s privileged access to the European market.”
Aung San Suu Kyi Faces New Charge In ‘Secret’ Trial
Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer announced that the leader was most recently charged under the country’s national disaster law, in addition to the earlier charge under the import and export act.
February 17, 2021
SOURCE: FRANK VAN BEEK/GETTY IMAGES