Fri 29 October 2021:
On Friday, a close aide of former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to 20 years in prison for treason by Myanmar’s military junta, according to his lawyer.
The former parliamentarian is the junta’s first high-ranking member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy to be jailed after a trial.
Suu Kyi’s right-hand man, he has long been sought out by international and domestic media for insight into the de facto leader of Myanmar’s thoughts.
“U Win Htein was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment under section 124a by a special court,” lawyer Myint Thwin told AFP, adding that they would appeal.
The 80-year-old is a longtime political prisoner, he told local media three days before his detention that the military coup was “not wise” and that its leaders “have taken (the country) in the wrong direction.”
According to a local monitoring group, Myanmar has been in upheaval since the February 1 coup, with widespread protests and more than 1,100 people killed by security forces.
Suu Kyi faces plenty of allegations, ranging from unlawfully importing walkie talkies to breaking coronavirus restrictions, that may land her in prison for decades.
(with agency)
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