Myanmar’s Court Rolls Out Another Jail Sentence for Aung San Suu Kyi
In a move that’s been nothing short of a courtroom drama, the junta‑controlled courts in Naypyidaw have once again declared Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel‑winning former leader, guilty in the first of a string of corruption cases. The decision? A straight‑up five‑year prison term.
What Brought Her In
- “Gold‑and‑cash” allegations: Suu Kyi allegedly accepted 11.4 kg of gold plus roughly $600,000 from Phyo Min Thein, a former Yangon chief minister turned accuser.
- She blasted the accusations as “absurd.”
- Already charged with a whopping 18 crimes, a verdict on all of them could land her close to 190 years behind bars—if people actually did that.
Where Is She Now?
After the February 1 coup, she was whisked out of the public eye and locked away in a secret location. The junta says she might be moved to a prison, but the details are as murky as the country’s political future.
Last Week’s Verdict
Stimulus to the court came just after it opened, and a judge handed down the sentence in what came across as a cloak‑room chat, according to a confidential source. The source kept an identity hush‑hush, as the court is closed to the public.
Resistance From the Underground
“We don’t recognise the junta’s rulings, legislation, or judiciary,” declared Nay Phone Latt, a former party official now part of a shadow National Unity Government aiming to topple the military regime. He added, “I don’t care how long they want to sentence you; it won’t last.”
What the World Is Saying
- Global powers call these trials “farcical” and demand Suu Kyi’s release.
- The junta insists she’s being given “due process” under an “independent” judiciary.
- Embassies in Myanmar of the U.S. and the U.K. didn’t respond to media queries over the verdict.
Why It Matters
Since the coup, Suu Kyi’s supporters claim her indictments are purely political—size‑up, pick‑up, and rack‑up “crimes” to keep her out of the political spotlight. Whether the world will see the military’s show‑down as a just administration or a manufactured prosecution remains to be seen.
