Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi has been seen by her lawyers for the first time since she was detained during a military coup a month ago.
Ms Suu Kyi, who appeared in court via video link, appeared to be in “good health” and asked to see her legal team, her lawyers said.
She has been held in an undisclosed location since the coup on 1 February.
The country has been riven with unrest since, with 18 people dying during pro-democracy protests on Sunday.
The deaths came as the military and police ramped up its response to the protests over the weekend, firing into the crowds.
However, protesters were once again out in force on Monday, demanding the elected government be restored and Ms Suu Kyi and other leaders of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), be released from detention.
The military says it seized power because of alleged fraud in a previous election, which saw the NLD win by a landslide. The military has provided no proof.
Where has Ms Suu Kyi been?
Ms Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest on 1 February and had not been seen in public until today’s hearing, when she appeared via video link at the court in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
Ms Suu Kyi originally faced two charges of illegally importing walkie talkies and violating Myanmar’s natural disaster law, but further charges were added on Monday, including breaching Covid-19 restrictions during the election campaign and for causing “fear and alarm”.
The initial charges carried sentences of up to three years in jail. It is not clear what punishment the new charge might carry. The case has been adjourned until 15 March.
Myanmar Now reported on Monday that ousted president Win Myint – a key ally of Ms Suu Kyi – has also been charged for incitement under 505b of the penal code.
Ms Suu Kyi’s popularity has soared in Myanmar since her arrest, but her international reputation still remains tarnished by allegations that she turned a blind eye to ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority Rohingya.
What is happening in Myanmar?
Myanmar’s military seized power on 1 February, declaring a state of emergency and handing all power over to General Min Aung Hlaing.
Just days later, the civil disobedience movement began to emerge – professionals who are refusing to return to work in protest.
The movement quickly started to gain momentum and it wasn’t long before hundreds of thousands of people began taking part in street protests.
Protests in recent days has seen an escalation of violence between police officers and civilians – with at least 18 people killed in a protest over the weekend.
Source: BBC News
BDST: 1344 HRS, MAR 01, 2021
