Myanmar’s disempowered de facto Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to four years in prison. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said she was found guilty of inciting violence and violating corona requirements.
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The disempowered President Win Myint was also sentenced to four years in prison for the same allegations. Journalists were not admitted to the trial in a special court in the capital, Naypyidaw.
Suu Kyi and Win Myint were deposed and arrested in February after a military coup. The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate was covered with a series of accusations by the now ruling military junta.
The military had justified its takeover with alleged fraud in the 2020 general election, in which Suu Kyi’s party had won a clear victory. More than 1,300 people have been killed and more than 10,000 arrested in protests against the military since February. 76-year-old Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since the military coup in early February.
Probably a total of 100 years imprisonment possible
It was initially unclear whether the Nobel Peace Prize laureate would actually have to go to prison or remain in detention at home. The judiciary has accused Suu Kyi of several other offenses, including violating foreign trade laws and corruption.
According to her trial observers, she could face up to 100 years imprisonment. Observers and human rights experts speak of a show trial and suspect that the junta wants to silence the popular politician in this way in the long term. The trial began in the capital, Naypyidaw, in mid-June.
Suu Kyi had been under house arrest for a total of 15 years. In 2016 she became the de facto head of government. (AFP, dpa)
