Myanmar’s Suu Kyi charged as calls to oppose coup grow

Former leader could be jailed for up to 3 years for possessing illegally imported walkie-talkies; China blocks UNSC move

YANGON: Myanmar authorities filed criminal charges against former leader Aung San Suu Kyi for possessing illegally imported walkie-talkies. She faces up to three years in jail if convicted. Suu Kyi was charged for breaching an import-export law. The police incident report indicated that unauthorised telecommunications equipment was found at her home in Naypyitaw, the capital.

Former President Win Myint was separately charged for breaching the natural disaster management law over an election campaign rally that police say violated Covid-19 restrictions and faces the same penalty.

Suu Kyi has called on supporters to resist Myanmar’s generals, who seized power on Monday after claiming without evidence that her landslide victory in November’s election was tainted with fraud. The military has pledged to hold elections after a yearlong state of emergency.

Lawmakers from her National League for Democracy party released a statement on Wednesday demanding the immediate release of Suu Kyi and the former president, recognition of the 2020 election results and the removal of all barriers to holding a new parliamentary session.

Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing said on Wednesday the nation will continue diplomatic ties with all countries, with its non-aligned foreign policy remaining unchanged, the military-run Myawady TV announced. The army also appointed four new ministers, for a total of 18 positions so far.