Conflicts & War

Myanmar’s shadow government denounces ‘arbitrary’ sentence against Suu Kyi

Bangkok, Dec 31 (EFE).- Myanmar’s shadow government, made up of pro-democracy politicians and activists opposed to the military junta, on Saturday denounced the latest prison sentence against deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi as arbitrary, and underlined the need for bringing the ruling military junta to court.

The National Unity Government (NUG) said in a statement that both Suu Kyi and Win Myint, the country’s ousted president who is also behind bars, have been “arbitrarily detained on fabricated charges.”

In this regard, the NUG referred to a statement on Dec.9, in which it declared the sentences against Suu Kyi, Win Myint and all political activists detained in the country since the military coup of Feb.1, 2021 as “invalid.”

“It is the terrorist military council and its lackeys, who are guilty of treasonous act against the State and atrocities against the people who need to be brought before the people’s court of law and judgment passed,” NUG added.

A military court in Myanmar on Friday sentenced Suu Kyi to seven years in prison on finding her guilty of five counts of corruption in what was the most recent case filed against her.

With this latest sentence, Suu Kyi, 77, under detention in a prison in Naypyidaw, faces a total of 33 years of imprisonment following a series of trials on some 20 charges following the military coup against her government.

The coup plunged Myanmar into a deep political, economic, and social crisis, which has aggravated armed ethnic conflicts raging in the country for decades.

At least 2,688 people have been killed due to the brutal repression by security forces, who have shot to kill peaceful and unarmed protesters, and more than 13,200 remain in detention, according to the nonprofit Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. EFE

bkk-esj/sc

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