Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi faces two new criminal charges - lawyer

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (AFP) Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi is facing two new criminal charges a er her court hearing via video link in Naypyidaw.

The deposed civilian leader is accused of a violation of communications laws as well as intent to incite public unrest, her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said.

"We can not say for sure how many more cases Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will face in this period," he told reporters in Naypyidaw Monday.

"Anything can happen in this country at this time."

Suu Kyi was already facing obscure criminal charges for possessing unlicensed walkietalkies, as well as violating coronavirus restrictions by staging a campaign event during last year's election.

Myanmar's ousted president Win Myint is also facing the same intent to incite public unrest charge in addition to coronavirus restriction breaches. Suu Kyi's next hearing is March 15.

Security forces opened fire on unarmed demonstrators in four cities on Sunday, with the UN saying it had credible information at least 18 people had died.

One person among a group of protesters crouching behind rubbish bins and other makeshi shields in Yangon, the commercial capital, was shot and had to be dragged away by others, according to video footage filmed by AFP.

"We strongly condemn the escalating violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately halt the use of force against peaceful protesters," Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, said.

AFP independently confirmed eight deaths in Sunday's violence, although there were fears the toll could be much higher.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a reliable monitoring group, estimated that about 30 people have been killed by security forces since the coup on February 1.

Suu Kyi, 75, was detained before dawn on that day, and has not been since in public since.

The military has justified its takeover, ending a decade-long democratic experiment, by making unfounded allegations of widespread fraud in last November's national elections.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won the election in a landslide.