Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi was hit with another charge yesterday, after the military imposed a second straight overnight internet shutdown in an attempt to grind down an anti-coup uprising.
In the two weeks since the generals ousted Suu Kyi and put the leader under house arrest over alleged voter fraud in November elections, big cities and isolated village communities alike have been in open revolt.
After her detention in a dawn raid on February 1, Suu Kyi was charged under an obscure import and export law over walkie talkies found in her home during a search.
Her lawyer said yesterday she had also been charged with violating the country’s natural disaster management law.
While it was unclear how the disaster law applied in Suu Kyi’s case, it has been used against deposed president Win Myint – also arrested on February 1 – over a campaign event the junta alleges broke coronavirus-related restrictions.
Suu Kyi and Win Myint were expected to appear via video conference during a March 1 trial.
Both defendants were in a “safer place” and “in good health,” according to military spokesman Zaw Min Tun.
