Aung San Suu Kyi Charged With Breaking Myanmar's Official Secrets Law

Aung San Suu Kyi charged with breaking Myanmar’s official secrets law along with Australian economist and others.

The act of charging Aung San Suu Kyi and the other people was an escalation of the campaign against the deposed leader by the military junta. Her government had been overthrown in a military coup earlier this year.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer revealed the latest accusations as the UN Security Council was warned that Myanmar was at risk of a civil war. Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) had been detained since the military coup. Earlier, the junta accused her of minor offences such as illegally importing handheld radios and breaching COVID-19 protocols.

According to Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer Khin Maung Zaw, three deposed cabinet ministers, and detained Australian economist Sean Turnell were also charged. All of them were charged in a Yangon court under the official secrets law a week ago. Khin Maung Zaw stated that he only learned of the new charges two days ago.

A conviction under the official secrets law can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years. The 75-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi appeared via video call for a hearing about the earlier charges on March 31. One of Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers Min Min Soe stated that she appeared to be in good health.

According to an estimate by the UN, at least 520 protestors have been killed in Myanmar since February 1. The UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab stated that "Two months on from the start of the coup, the Myanmar military has sunk to a new low with the wanton killing of innocent people, including children.” He added that “The UK’s latest actions target one of the military’s key funding streams."

A UN Security Council session was told that without action, the order in Myanmar would break down. The country is said to be at risk of a bloodbath if the military rulers continue their violent measures against the protestors.