Suu Kyi faces new charge as junta intensifies crackdown

Yangon, February 16

Police in Myanmar filed a new charge against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, her lawyer said on Tuesday, in a move that may allow her to be held indefinitely without trial as part of an intensifying crackdown by authorities who seized power in a February 1 coup.

Charge fabricated, says boris Johnson

British PM Boris Johnson said new charges against former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi had been fabricated by the military and were a clear violation of her human rights. We support citizens, he said. Reuters

Sanctions not needed: Singapore minister

Singapore’s foreign minister said the Myanmar situation was alarming but he did not support widespread sanctions on the country in response to the coup there, which could hurt ordinary citizens. Reuters

The new charge was for breaking a law that has been used to prosecute people who have violated Covid restrictions, lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said after meeting with a judge in a court in Naypyitaw. Because of changes to the Penal Code instituted by the junta last week, it could allow her to be detained indefinitely without court permission.

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Meanwhile, the military assured people that it would hold an election and hand over power to the civilian government. “Our objective is to hold an election and hand power to the winning party,” Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the ruling council, said.

Since the February 1 coup, the junta has ratcheted up the pressure on protesters resisting the takeover, including breaking up some demonstrations and ordering internet access blocked.

Meanwhile, long queues of people were seen at the Central Bank amid speculation online that the military was seeking to seize money from it. — Agencies