According to the news agency Reuters, a Burmese court has convicted ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies and has increased his sentence by four years.
The court has also found him guilty of violating the Covid 19 rules. Suu Kyi’s lawyers have said the radios were not with her and were actually used for security purposes, but the court declined to dismiss the charges.
Her supporters and observers around the world say the charges she faces are to legitimize military rule over Myanmar and permanently remove her from the country’s political landscape.
Previously sentenced to 2 years
Last month, Myanmar’s former state councilor was found guilty of two other charges and sentenced to two years in prison. The sentence was initially for four years before the court halved it.
He was detained by the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s military, after he overthrew the civilian government and established a military dictatorship in a February 2021 coup. In all, there are about a dozen charges against Suu Kyi and if convicted of all, she could face more than 100 years in prison.
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet last week condemned the Burmese leader’s “pretentious trial”. The Indian government said last month that it was upset by the decision of Suu Kyi’s first trial. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited Myanmar in December, the Indian administration’s first official access to a military government since the February 2021 coup.
