The military junta in Myanmar wants to get rid of Aung San Suu Kyi at any price – and heaps lawsuits and prison sentences on the ousted head of government. Human rights activists fear “life imprisonment” for them.
A court controlled by the military junta in Myanmar has sentenced former Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi to five years in prison for corruption.
Sources familiar with the process who wanted to remain anonymous said this to the German Press Agency on Wednesday. The 76-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner faces nearly a dozen corruption charges. This was the first verdict. The politician faces up to 15 years in prison for each charge.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers have media ban
The verdict, which was actually planned for Tuesday, had previously been postponed by one day without giving reasons. Suu Kyi has denied allegations that he accepted gold and a $600,000 bribe from a politician. The procedure takes place in camera. Suu Kyi’s lawyers are not allowed to speak to the media.
“Aung San Suu Kyi’s days as a free woman are practically numbered,” Human Rights Watch Asia deputy director Phil Robertson told the German Press Agency. Given her advanced age, the sentences could mean “life imprisonment” for her. That conviction on false corruption charges would now add more years behind bars, Robertson said. “Destroying democracy in Myanmar also means getting rid of Aung San Suu Kyi – and the junta is leaving nothing to chance.”
Human rights activists speak of a show trial
The military staged a coup in February last year. The generals justified the coup by alleging fraud in the November 2020 election, which Suu Kyi clearly won. They presented no evidence. Since then, the former Burma has descended into chaos and violence.
Human rights activists speak of a show trial against Suu Kyi. A few months ago she had already been sentenced to a total of six years in prison in minor cases. It is believed that the junta wants to permanently silence the politician, who has been under house arrest for many years. However, it is unclear whether she actually has to serve a prison sentence or remains under house arrest.
Source: Stern
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