Islamabad, Dec 6 (Asia Free Press): A court in Myanmar ousted Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s former State Counsellor, for four years on allegations of inciting and violating coronavirus prohibitions. Critics claim the charges are politically motivated, according to Reuters.
President Win Myint was also sentenced to four years in jail, as the court handed out its initial convictions in a slew of trials against Suu Kyi and other civilian officials captured by the military in a Feb. 1 coup.
Myanmar has been in chaos since a coup against Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government prompted widespread protests and sparked worldwide anxiety about the end of fragile political reforms implemented following decades of military control.
Suu Kyi, 76, a Nobel laureate, has been jailed since the coup, along with the majority of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party’s senior officials. Others are either abroad or in hiding.
“The charges were ludicrous, designed as retribution against popular leaders. So the guilty verdicts and prison terms are no surprise,” said Richard Horsey, a Myanmar expert at the International Crisis Group think tank.
The military has not disclosed the location of Suu Kyi’s detention, and it was unclear immediately whether her punishment will result in an instant change in her circumstances.
The trial in the capital, Naypyitaw, has been closed to the media, and the junta’s official news agencies have made no mention of it. Suu Kyi’s counsel have been prohibited from speaking with the media and the general public.
