Protesters hold signs calling for the release of detained civilian Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration against a military coup in Yangon, Feb. 21, 2021.
Myanmar’s substantive leader Aung San Suu Kyi has not been seen since her arrest in a coup by the military government on February 1, and sources say she has been transferred to secret detention by the military. She finally appeared at a video court hearing today (March 1), and lawyers said she looked thinner and had been charged with an additional crime in court. The next hearing is scheduled for March 15.
The military government has previously charged Aung San Suu Kyi with two counts of holding campaign rallies during the Epidemic and importing wireless radios in violation of the law, two charges that the international community has widely dismissed as insignificant.
Min Min Soe, a lawyer representing Aung San Suu Kyi, told Reuters that the new charges against her were based on a provision in Myanmar’s colonial-era criminal code that prohibits the publication of information that could “cause fear or alarm” and disturb “public peace. The new charges are based on a provision in Myanmar’s colonial-era criminal code that prohibits the publication of information that could “cause fear or alarm” and disturb the “public peace.
Min Min Soe also said Aung San Suu Kyi appeared to be in good health and may have lost a little weight. She requested a meeting with her legal team during the video court hearing.
The National League for Democracy (NLD), to which Aung San Suu Kyi belongs, revealed on Feb. 26 that her house arrest six days ago had been transferred from her Home in the capital Naypyidaw to an unknown location, and that there was no way to know where Aung San was being held.
According to reports, the city of Naypyidaw was built by the military during the past dictatorship and is relatively remote.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, told AFP that he was still unable to speak to her before today’s scheduled court hearing. Today’s hearing is mainly a preparation session.
Khin Maung Saw said he hoped the court would formally approve him as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s defense attorney and that “it would be very unfair to her…if she is not given a defense attorney immediately.”
Kim Munsao is a veteran human rights lawyer. He said the preparatory court will focus on the procedural arrangements for the trial and set a schedule for the trial.
At least 18 people were killed and more than 30 injured when Burma’s military security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters in four cities on Sunday, making it the bloodiest day in weeks of crackdowns on demonstrations in Burma.
30 mins ago in Sanchaung: This footage shows how the police approached to the demonstrators and shoot. #MilkTeaAllianceMyanmar pic .twitter.com/TY1CAjleEW
- Mratt Kyaw Thu (@mrattkthu) February 28, 2021
The Myanmar Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a watchdog group, estimates that some 30 people have died in the crackdown and more than 470 have been arrested since the coup.
Myanmar’s military staged a coup on Feb. 1, arresting 75-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi and many senior members of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), and claiming fraud in last November’s general election, which was won by the NLD. The military’s seizure of power triggered hundreds of thousands of people to take to the streets, plunging the country into turmoil and ending a decade of democracy.
Peaceful protesters trying to escape the brutality of #Myanmar police and military- in front of Yuzana Plaza, Yangon. #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar #MilkTeaAlliance #Feb28Coup pic.twitter.com/chK1PR8WM7
- Ro Nay San Lwin (@nslwin) February 28, 2021
DAWEI: A soldier gives the gun to a police for like test-shooting. and when he hit a man, all celebrate happily. today in Dawei, Tanintharyi. #MilkTeaAllianceMyanmar pic.twitter.com/7kas3h4k5T - Mratt Kyaw Thu (@mrattkthu) February 28, 2021
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