Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was ousted in a military coup, was charged with new criminal offences on Monday (April 12). Myanmar’s military overthrew the democratically elected government of which Aung San Suu Kyi was the de facto leader in a coup on Feb. 1 and took the Nobel Peace Prize laureate into custody. Since then, Aung San Suu Kyi has not been seen in public.
Nationwide protests against the military regime’s overthrow of the elected government and the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other officials have continued for more than two months. The junta has used increasingly brutal tactics to try to quell the protests.
AFP reported that Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer, Min Min Soe, said the new charges against her were for allegedly violating “Article 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law. So far, Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged with six counts, including violating a colonial-era official secrets law, which alone could land her in prison for 14 years. The military’s multiple criminal charges against Aung San Suu Kyi could result in a lifetime ban from holding public office.
Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in court via video on Monday, where she asked the court to allow her to meet with her lawyer in person. Reuters reported that Aung San Suu Kyi was only allowed to speak with her lawyer via video in the presence of security officials. It was not immediately clear whether she was aware of the protests and bloody military crackdown that has swept across Myanmar since the military seized power. The lawyer said his video conversation with Aung San Suu Kyi could only be about legal-related issues.
AFP reported that Min Min Soe’s lawyer said Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest in Naypyidaw, appeared to be in good health.
So far, some 706 protesters, including 46 children, have been killed in the military’s violent crackdown, according to the Aid Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), and 82 people were killed Friday (April 9) in Bago township, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of Yangon. More than 3,000 others were arrested.
Undeterred by the violence, activists have called for resistance during the traditional Burmese New Year (Thingyan). The Burmese New Year is a Buddhist holiday and public holiday that lasts several days. The Water Festival is an important celebration during the Burmese New Year. According to the Burmese calendar, this year’s Myanmar New Year begins on April 13 and ends on April 16.
Protests continued in cities such as Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, on Monday, the “New Year’s Eve” of the Myanmar New Year.
The crackdown by the Burmese military and police on the protesters sparked widespread international condemnation and calls for restraint, with several countries imposing sanctions on the Burmese armed forces and their extensive business interests. However, the international community’s efforts have not had a noticeable effect. AFP reported that the EU’s top diplomat blamed Moscow and Beijing for preventing the UN Security Council from imposing an arms embargo, among other draconian measures, on the Burmese junta.
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