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YANGON: Myanmar’s ousted civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, faced the court on Monday (March 1) via video link, being seen by her lawyer for the first time since a military coup a month ago. it sparked massive and relentless protests.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s appearance came as protesters took to the streets again across the country in defiance of an escalation in force by the junta that on Sunday resulted in the deadliest day of unrest since taking power.
At least 18 people were killed Sunday when troops and police fired live bullets at protesters in Myanmar cities, according to the United Nations, which cited its own credible information.
READ: Myanmar protesters march again after bloodiest post-coup riots
LEE: At least 18 dead, says the UN human rights office, while the Myanmar police repress the protests for the second day
Aung San Suu Kyi, 75, appeared healthy during Monday’s court appearance, lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told AFP by phone during a break in the proceedings.
An additional charge of Myanmar’s colonial-era penal code, which prohibits the publication of information that may “cause fear or alarm”, was brought against her during the hearing, lawyer Min Min Soe said.
Aung San Suu Kyi had requested to see her legal team during the hearing through a video link, the lawyer added.
Min Min Soe said that the next hearing would be on March 15.
Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested in Naypyidaw, the nation’s capital, before dawn on the day of the coup, and she had not been in public since.
He has reportedly been under house arrest in Naypyidaw, an isolated city built by the military during a previous dictatorship.
The army has justified its inauguration, ending a decade-long democratic experiment by making unfounded accusations of widespread fraud in the national elections last November.
The Aung San Suu Kyi National League for Democracy won the election overwhelmingly.
The generals have attacked Aung San Suu Kyi with two accusations that the international community considers frivolous: importing walkie talkies and holding a campaign demonstration during the pandemic.
READ: Aung San Suu Kyi hits a second count as Myanmar’s junta tightens control
The court proceedings on Monday were preliminary matters in the case, including the fact that Khin Maung Zaw sought to represent her formally.
LIFTING
Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets regularly in the last month to oppose the coup.
While the military has steadily increased the type of force used to try to contain the uprising, starting with tear gas and water cannons, the violence this weekend saw the greatest escalation.
LEE: At least 18 dead, says the UN human rights office, while the Myanmar police repress the protests for the second day
One person was shot while crouching behind garbage bins and other makeshift shields, and had to be dragged away by others, and the incident was filmed by the media.
AFP independently confirmed 10 deaths in Sunday’s violence, although it was feared that the number could be much higher.
The Political Prisoner Assistance Association, a trusted monitoring group, estimated that some 30 people had been killed by security forces since the February 1 coup.
On Monday, protests broke out again in several cities across the country, with protesters in Yangon using bamboo poles, sofas and tree branches to erect barricades in the streets.
In a clash broadcast live on Facebook and verified by AFP, unarmed protesters fled after a barrage of shots was fired.
It was not immediately clear whether the security forces had fired actual rounds or rubber bullets.
Hundreds of people were also arrested over the weekend and many in Yangon were taken to Insein Prison, where top democracy activists in Myanmar have served long prison terms under previous dictatorships.
More than 1,100 people have been arrested, charged or sentenced since the coup, according to the Association for the Assistance to Political Prisoners.
A reporter also received rubber bullets over the weekend while covering a protest in the central city of Pyay, his employer said.
Several journalists documenting Saturday’s attacks by security forces were detained, including an Associated Press photographer in Yangon.
“We strongly condemn the escalation of violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately stop the use of force against peaceful protesters,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office.
READ: US warns of ‘additional actions’ on Myanmar coup and violent crackdown
The United States has been one of the board’s most outspoken critics, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken also reacted with horror after Sunday’s violence.
“We condemn the aberrational violence of the Burmese security forces against the people of Burma and will continue to promote accountability for those responsible,” Blinken tweeted, using the country’s old name.
