Court sentenced Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi to four years in prison

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A special court in the capital of Myanmar sentenced Burma’s exiled leader Aung San Suu Kyi to four years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to agitation and violation of coronavirus restrictions, legal officials said. ..

The ruling is the first in a series of indictments since the 76-year-old Nobel laureate took power on February 1, and her National League for Democracy has been indicted for the second five years. Prevented the start of his term. ..

The agitation included a statement posted on her party’s Facebook page after she and other leaders had already been detained by the military, and the coronavirus accusations were in November last year when her party overwhelmingly won. It included the emergence of a campaign prior to the election.

The army, whose allies lost many seats in the election, claimed large-scale fraudulent votes, but independent election observers did not find major fraud.

The court’s ruling was conveyed by a lawyer who claimed anonymity for fear of being punished by the authorities. Suu Kyi’s trial was not open to the media or the audience, and her lawyer, who was the only source of information about the proceedings, received a gag order in October banning information disclosure.

The proceedings against Suu Kyi are widely seen as being devised to discredit her and prevent her from running for the next election. The Constitution prohibits anyone sent to jail after being convicted of a crime from becoming a high-ranking official or a member of parliament.

Verdicts can further fuel national tensions.

On Sunday, there was a protest march demanding the release of Suu Kyi and other detained members of her government, who opposed the junta. According to unconfirmed reports, about 30 young people may have deliberately marched military trucks in Yangon, the country’s largest city, killing at least three protesters.

Suu Kyi’s first two decisions will be filed last Tuesday for disseminating false or inflammatory information that may be offensive to public order and morals and for violating the Natural Disaster Management Act for violating coronavirus restrictions. was. However, the court postponed the decision without explanation. At the same time, it agreed this week to allow testimony about another coronavirus accusation from an additional lawyer who was previously unable to attend court due to poor health.

Suu Kyi’s lawyer energetically urged him to dismiss the alleged sedition. The prosecution’s evidence consisted of a statement posted on the Suu Kyi party’s Facebook page. Defendant lawyers argued that Suu Kyi and co-defendant Win Myint were not liable for statements that criticized the acquisition and suggested resistance in a broad sense. Because they were already in custody.

Former Mayor of Naypyidaw, Myo Aung, was another indicted defendant, who was sentenced to up to two years in prison and a fine. Win Myint was sentenced to a total of four years and Myo Aung was sentenced to two years.

The seize of power in February was filled with nationwide nonviolent demonstrations in which security forces were crushed by deadly forces. They killed about 1,300 civilians, according to a detailed tally compiled by the Political Prisoner Support Association.

Strict restrictions on nonviolent protests have led to armed resistance growing in cities and the countryside, and UN experts have warned that the country is in a civil war.

The military detained Suu Kyi on the day of the acquisition, and she has appeared in court in several trials, but has not been seen in public since.

A ruling on Suu Kyi’s second count for violating coronavirus restrictions is scheduled for December 14. The maximum penalties for each count are 3 years imprisonment and a fine.

Other cases against Suu Kyi, who are currently on trial, cover allegations of unregistered imports and use of transceivers by her guards. Violation of the Official Secrets Act, co-defendant of imprisoned Australian economist Sean Turnell. Four separate corruption charges covering allegations of bribery acceptance and job abuse to obtain favorable terms in property transactions. Each corruption charge can be imprisoned for up to 15 years and fined.

The fifth alleged corruption trial has not yet begun, and last week state media announced that a sixth alleged corruption was also filed against Suu Kyi.

Recent accusations have accused her and Win Myint of corruption by granting permission to rent and buy helicopters.

In mid-November, the military-appointed Election Commission announced its intention to prosecute Suu Kyi and 15 other senior politicians for fraud in the previous election.

Grant Peck

Associated Press

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