Suu Kyi’s Lawyer Gets a Gag Order in the Wake of the Coup
After the military seized power in February, Khin Maung Zaw – the lawyer who has been the only voice we’ve heard about Aung San Suu Kyi’s tangled legal woes – suddenly found himself silenced. On Friday (Oct 15), he posted on Facebook that the authorities had slapped him with a gag order, claiming his words could “cause instability.” It’s a story that feels straight out of a dystopian thriller, but it’s happening right now in Myanmar.
What the Order Really Says
The murky decree explained that:
- Khin Maung Zaw must not talk to media, diplomats, international NGOs, or any foreign government.
- His communication could “harass” people, “hurt a person who is acting in accordance with the law,” or stir up riots and disrupt public peace.
- Troubled by “fake information” from both local and foreign outlets that could destabilise the country.
Why the Silence Matters
Since the Feb 1 coup, Suu Kyi has been locked away in an undisclosed location. The only way anyone can know about her is through her lawyer, who only sees her in court. The gag order keeps that lifeline from severing completely, yet it also forces her lawyer to crunch his words into tiny snippets that barely make it over the news wires.
Safer‑Than‑Spicy Charges
Auntie Suu Kyi is staring down a laundry list that reads like a crime‑novel:
- Breaking COVID protocols – she allegedly flouted pandemic rules.
- Illegal import of two‑way radios.
- “Incitement to cause public alarm” – basically, she’s accused of making people upset.
- Violation of the Official Secrets Act – which, acutely, means the military is putting a huge red flag over her.
Even Fighty Legal Praise
On Tuesday, Khin Maung Zaw sent a text summarizing the testimony of former President Win Myint, who claimed the military told him to resign right before the coup or he’d be harmed. Suu Kyi, per the lawyer’s message, wanted that public, and Khin Maung Zaw leaked it to the world. It’s a small victory in a battle that’s more about keeping her in the darkness than actually prosecuting her.
When Junta Spokesman Gets Pretty
Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said the Judge was handling the case fairly and independently, a claim that feels a bit like watching a magician’s reveal. Meanwhile, the coup cut off a decade of tentative steps toward democracy and a dash of economic growth that had sprouted after the military’s half‑century of direct rule.
What’s the Takeaway?
We’ve got a lawyer who’s fighting on the front lines of a legal war. His gag order shows how the junta is tightening its grip on every possible channel of communication. At the same time, it keeps the story alive in a world that’s left so many questions unanswered. If history has taught us anything:
- When powers are shaken, lawyers become the unlikely heroes.
- Gag orders are a favourite tool of any regime that wants to keep the narrative under its thumb.
- And sometimes, the loudest voice is the one that doesn’t get silenced at all.
Stay tuned, because the next chapter of Myanmar’s saga may just be written around the edges of this very order!
