Myanmar’s detained civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been charged along with four of her allies with violating the country’s colonial-era official secrets act, her chief lawyer said on Thursday.
She was charged at the western district court in Yangon under Section 3 (1) (c) of the 1923 law. The section criminalises the possession, collection, recording, publishing, or sharing of state information that is “directly or indirectly useful to an enemy”,local media reported.
This is the most serious charge against the veteran opponent of military rule, Reuters reports.
Suu Kyi, three of her deposed cabinet ministers and her detained Australian economic adviser, Sean Turnell, were charged a week ago in a Yangon court, Khin Maung Zaw tells Reuters by phone, adding he learned of the new charge two days ago.
Suu Kyi has been detained since the Feb. 1 coup and is also charged with violating coronavirus protocols, illegally possessing two-way radios and has been accused by the ruling military council of bribery.
The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, calls for the release of all those detained, including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The U.N. Security Council condemns the use of violence against peaceful protesters in Myanmar and the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Its press statement, approved by all 15 council members after intense negotiations, expresses “deep concern at the rapidly deteriorating situation” and reiterates “the need to fully respect human rights and to pursue dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar.” The Council also called for “the immediate release of all detainees, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.”
But the council dropped a threat of possible future action against the country’s military.
On Feb. 1, Myanmar’s military detained State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint in the country’s first coup since 1988, bringing an end to a decade of civilian rule.
The Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy had won a landslide in a general election in November. But the military has claimed the election was marred by fraud.
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