This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-57449884
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Aung San Suu Kyi: Trial of ousted Myanmar leader begins | Aung San Suu Kyi: Trial of ousted Myanmar leader begins |
(5 months later) | |
The trial of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has got under way, four months after a military coup removed the elected government from office. | The trial of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has got under way, four months after a military coup removed the elected government from office. |
She is charged with owning unlicensed walkie-talkies and violating Covid restrictions. | She is charged with owning unlicensed walkie-talkies and violating Covid restrictions. |
Later trials will focus on allegations of corruption and breaking the official secrets act. | Later trials will focus on allegations of corruption and breaking the official secrets act. |
Human rights groups have condemned the trial, describing it as an attempt to stop her running in future elections. | Human rights groups have condemned the trial, describing it as an attempt to stop her running in future elections. |
Ms Suu Kyi, 75, has been held under house arrest since the 1 February coup in Myanmar (also called Burma), and little has been seen or heard of her apart from her brief court appearances. | Ms Suu Kyi, 75, has been held under house arrest since the 1 February coup in Myanmar (also called Burma), and little has been seen or heard of her apart from her brief court appearances. |
'I was told to shoot protesters - I refused' | 'I was told to shoot protesters - I refused' |
Myanmar coup: What is happening and why? | Myanmar coup: What is happening and why? |
On Monday, Ms Suu Kyi's lawyers, who have met her only twice since she was detained, will cross-examine witnesses over the claims. | On Monday, Ms Suu Kyi's lawyers, who have met her only twice since she was detained, will cross-examine witnesses over the claims. |
Another trial will begin on 15 June over sedition charges. If convicted of that charge alone, she faces up to 14 years in prison. | Another trial will begin on 15 June over sedition charges. If convicted of that charge alone, she faces up to 14 years in prison. |
Last week, she was handed additional corruption charges over allegations that she illegally accepted $600,000 (£425,000) in cash and around 11 kilos of gold. | Last week, she was handed additional corruption charges over allegations that she illegally accepted $600,000 (£425,000) in cash and around 11 kilos of gold. |
"There is an undeniable political background to keep her out of the scene of the country and to smear her prestige," her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told AFP last week. | "There is an undeniable political background to keep her out of the scene of the country and to smear her prestige," her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told AFP last week. |
"That's one of the reasons to charge her - to keep her out of the scene." | "That's one of the reasons to charge her - to keep her out of the scene." |
The charges against Aung San Suu Kyi | The charges against Aung San Suu Kyi |
Corruption, with carries a maximum jail term of 15 years | Corruption, with carries a maximum jail term of 15 years |
Violating the official secrets act, which carries a maximum jail term of 14 years | Violating the official secrets act, which carries a maximum jail term of 14 years |
Violating import-export laws by illegally importing walkie-talkies, which carries a maximum jail term of three years | Violating import-export laws by illegally importing walkie-talkies, which carries a maximum jail term of three years |
Violating the telecommunications law by importing walkie-talkies, which carries a maximum jail term of 1 year | Violating the telecommunications law by importing walkie-talkies, which carries a maximum jail term of 1 year |
Two charges of violating a natural disaster law, carrying a maximum jail term of three years each | Two charges of violating a natural disaster law, carrying a maximum jail term of three years each |
Inciting public unrest, which carries a maximum jail term of three years | Inciting public unrest, which carries a maximum jail term of three years |
Ms Suu Kyi (left) pictured with former president Win Myint and doctor Myo Aung in court | Ms Suu Kyi (left) pictured with former president Win Myint and doctor Myo Aung in court |
The military has justified seizing power in February, alleging voter fraud in general elections held last year. | The military has justified seizing power in February, alleging voter fraud in general elections held last year. |
But independent election monitors say the election was largely free and fair, and the charges against Ms Suu Kyi have been widely criticised as politically motivated. | But independent election monitors say the election was largely free and fair, and the charges against Ms Suu Kyi have been widely criticised as politically motivated. |
The coup triggered widespread demonstrations, and Myanmar's military has brutally cracked down on pro-democracy protesters, activists and journalists. | The coup triggered widespread demonstrations, and Myanmar's military has brutally cracked down on pro-democracy protesters, activists and journalists. |
On Monday, a US journalist detained in Myanmar since March was released after charges against him were dropped. Nathan Maung is due to fly out of Myanmar on Tuesday, according to his lawyers. | On Monday, a US journalist detained in Myanmar since March was released after charges against him were dropped. Nathan Maung is due to fly out of Myanmar on Tuesday, according to his lawyers. |
Security forces have killed more than 800 people and detained nearly 5,000 to date, according to the monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). | Security forces have killed more than 800 people and detained nearly 5,000 to date, according to the monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). |
This video can not be played | |
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | |
Could phone footage put Myanmar's leaders in jail? | Could phone footage put Myanmar's leaders in jail? |
Myanmar in profile | Myanmar in profile |
Myanmar, also known as Burma, became independent from Britain in 1948. For much of its modern history it has been under military rule | Myanmar, also known as Burma, became independent from Britain in 1948. For much of its modern history it has been under military rule |
Restrictions began loosening from 2010 onwards, leading to free elections in 2015 and the installation of a government led by veteran opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi the following year | Restrictions began loosening from 2010 onwards, leading to free elections in 2015 and the installation of a government led by veteran opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi the following year |
In 2017, Myanmar's army responded to attacks on police by Rohingya militants with a deadly crackdown, driving more than half a million Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh in what the UN later called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" | In 2017, Myanmar's army responded to attacks on police by Rohingya militants with a deadly crackdown, driving more than half a million Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh in what the UN later called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" |