Myanmar court hands Aung San Suu Kyi 4-year prison sentence in 1st of several looming verdicts


A court in Naypyidaw, Myanmar's capital, sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to four years in prison on Monday, the first verdict in a growing number of charges the ruling military junta has filed against the beloved 76-year-old leader they deposed in a February coup. Monday's sentence was for inciting public unrest and breaking COVID-19 rules, and the verdicts were disclosed to The Associated Press, Reuters, and other news organizations by legal officials.
The junta has restricted information of the trial, and Suu Kyi has not been seen in public since her arrest. "The military has steadily piled on a dozen criminal charges against her," The Washington Post reports, and "she cumulatively faces more than a century in jail." All of the charges "are widely seen as contrived to discredit her and keep her from running in the next election," AP adds. "The constitution bars anyone sent to prison after being convicted of a crime from holding high office or becoming a lawmaker."
The military seized control on Feb. 1 as Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy was set to start governing after a sweeping victory in 2020 elections. The junta has claimed the vote was marred by widespread fraud, but outside experts say there is no evidence to back that up.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Experts say the military, under commander in chief Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, is set on neutralizing Suu Kyi as a political threat by subjecting her to even harsher treatment than she endured during her years confined to her lakeside home in Yangon," the Post said. "Though Suu Kyi was barred from leaving during most of these two decades, the public knew of her whereabouts, and she was able to make brief appearances from behind the gates of her home and speak to diplomats."
The Naypyidaw court on Monday also sentenced two other National League for Democracy officials, ousted President Win Myint and former Naypyidaw Mayor Myo Aung, to two and four years, respectively.
Meanwhile, the junta continued it brutal crackdown on protesters Sunday, with a military truck ramming into a group of young demonstrators in Yangon and soldiers then firing into the crowd. At least five people were killed, local media reports. "With severe restrictions on nonviolent protest, armed resistance has grown in the cities and countryside, to the point that U.N. experts have warned the country is sliding into civil war," AP reports.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a week
Speed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Gold tops $4K per ounce, signaling financial unease
Speed Read Investors are worried about President Donald Trump’s trade war
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a week
Speed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime minister
Speed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s plan
Speed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sites
Speed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure
-
Netanyahu agrees to Trump’s new Gaza peace plan
Speed Read At President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they agreed upon a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Moldova gives decisive win to pro-EU party
Speed Read The country is now on track to join the European Union within five years
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users