SUU KYI APPEARS IN COURT FACING NEW CHARGES AS PROTESTS CONTINUE IN MYNAMAR

Mon 01 March 2021:

Suu Kyi appeared in the video 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 75-year-old is facing various charges about which the international community has expressed widespread skepticism.

Footage has emerged of Myanmar’s former de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi appearing in a post-military coup hearing. The video appeared to show her looking healthy.

The UN Human Rights Office on Sunday condemned escalating violence against protesters in Myanmar, calling on the country’s military junta to immediately halt the use of force.

“We strongly condemn the escalating violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately halt the use of force against peaceful protestors,” Ravina Shamdasani, the office’s spokeswoman, said in a statement.

Shamdasani said the UN Human Rights office has credible information that the use of force left at least 18 people dead and over 30 others wounded in protests against the Feb. 1 coup.

“Throughout the day, in several locations throughout the country, police and military forces have confronted peaceful demonstrations, using lethal force and less-than-lethal force,” she added.

Police fired teargas and stun grenades to disperse more than 300 demonstrators near the Sin Yay Twin bus stop on Yangon’s Insein Road at 10:45am. The protesters have retreated north to Butar Yone bus stop. Local residents are helping teargas victims.#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/TESzaORqUu

— Frontier Myanmar (@FrontierMM) March 1, 2021

Suu Kyi was taken into custody on February 1 when Myanmar’s military staged a coup against her civilian government.

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.

Security forces used stun grenades and tear gas to disperse the protesters on Bargayar Road in Sanchaung township. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #2021uprising pic.twitter.com/3fwLHWZNRJ

— Myanmar Now (@Myanmar_Now_Eng) March 1, 2021

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

On Sunday alone, police detained at least 85 medical professionals and students and seven journalists present at the demonstrations.

More than 1,000 individuals have been arbitrarily arrested and detained in the country, and some of them remain unaccounted for.

The rights office reiterated its call for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained, including members of the democratically elected government.

“The international community must stand in solidarity with the protestors and all those seeking a return to democracy in Myanmar,” said Shamdasani.

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