Aung San Suu Kyi appears in court for the first time since the coup
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Alaina
- . May 26, 2021
- . Update: May 27, 2021 8:52 pm
A global philanthropist and Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in person at a court hearing on May 24 for the first time since her government was overthrown by the military in February. Officials present in the meeting told them that she was looking good in health and held a face-to-face meeting with her legal team for about 30 minutes before the hearing. Her lawyer, Thae Maung is representing her in the case. Previously, Suu Kyi was charged with illegally possessing walkie-talkie radios and for violating the official secrets. During her meeting with the judge, she requested her lawyer to arrange for another meeting for a longer time to discuss all the charges. Founded by Aung San Suu Kyi in 1988, National League for Democracy party now is in danger of being dissolved. However, she believes that the party was established for the people so the party will be there as long as the people are.
Suu Kyi is 75 years old and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her efforts to build democracy. For the past few years, she held by the police facing grave charges. Moreover, she is among 4,000 people detained since the coup. As she goes to the court, a news correspondent revealed there was the presence of heavy security in the capital. The road to the specially constructed courthouse was blocked off by police trucks.
Before her appearance in the court, Suu Kyi had only appeared through video conferencing for the hearing as she was not allowed to speak directly to her lawyers. The junta has cited security reasons for earlier not allowing her to speak to her lawyers in private at a time the military authorities have not established control of the country in the face of daily protests, strikes and renewed insurgencies.
