Myanmar coup: Aung San Suu Kyi appears in court to face fresh charges

Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi has been seen by her lawyers for the first time since she was detained during a military coup a month ago.

Ms Suu Kyi, who appeared in court via video link, appeared to be in “good health” and asked to see her legal team, her lawyers said.

She has been held in an undisclosed location since the coup on 1 February.

Protesters took to the streets again on Monday, despite Sunday seeing the deadliest day yet with 18 killed.

The deaths came as the military and police ramped up its response to demonstrations across the South East Asian nation over the weekend, firing into the crowds.

However, protesters were once again out in force on Monday, demanding the elected government be restored and Ms Suu Kyi and other leaders of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), be released from detention.

The military says it seized power because of alleged fraud in November’s general elections, which saw the NLD win by a landslide.

It has provided no proof of these allegations although it has replaced the Election Commission and promised fresh polls in a year.

Where has Ms Suu Kyi been?
Ms Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest when the coup began on 1 February and had not been seen in public until today’s hearing, when she appeared via video link at the court in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw.

Ms Suu Kyi originally faced two charges of illegally importing walkie talkies and violating Myanmar’s natural disaster law, but further charges were added on Monday, including breaching Covid-19 restrictions during the election campaign and for causing “fear and alarm”.

The initial charges carried sentences of up to three years in jail. It is not clear what punishment the new charges might carry. The case has been adjourned until 15 March.

Myanmar Now reported on Monday that ousted president Win Myint – a key ally of Ms Suu Kyi – has also been charged for incitement under the penal code.

Ms Suu Kyi’s popularity has soared in Myanmar since her arrest, but her international reputation still remains tarnished by allegations that she turned a blind eye to ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority Rohingya community.

Agencies