Aung San Suu Kyi Appears In Court Facing New Charges

Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in a court hearing via video link on Monday looking healthy but facing new charges from the military junta.

The latest charge is believed to be over the publication of information that may “cause fear or alarm.”

The international community has expressed widespread skepticism over the charges levelled against her.

The leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), which swept last November’s now-annulled election, has not been seen in public since her detention on February 1 when the military seized power, alleging widespread electoral fraud.

Shortly afterwards, she was charged with illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios as well as violating a natural disaster law by staging a campaign rally during the coronavirus pandemic.

A third charge, filed on Monday, was under a section of the colonial-era penal code prohibiting the publication of information that may “cause fear or alarm” or disrupt “public tranquillity”, Min Min Soe said.

Another charge was also added under a telecommunications law, the lawyer said, which stipulates that equipment needs a licence.

The next hearing will be on March 15.