Myanmar’s ousted democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi was charged with committing electoral fraud during the 2020 polls, state media reported Tuesday.
Without giving details on when court proceedings would begin, state-run newspaper Global New Light reported that the “election fraud and lawless actions” charge, with reference to last November’s general election, has also been levied against 15 other government officials, including now-former President U Win Myint and the former chairman of the country’s election commission.
It is the latest in a barrage of superficial charges that have been pinned on Suu Kyi in an effort to curb opposition in the aftermath of the putsch. In September, the court heard the prosecution’s testimony about Suu Kyi defying the country’s coronavirus restrictions during last year’s general elections. The junta specifically created the court to process cases against the deposed leaders.
Furthermore, Suu Kyi has been accused of violating the country’s Import and Export Law over the possession of “illegally” imported walkie-talkies that were not registered. The former leader has also been charged with corruption, sedition, incitement, and violating the country’s colonial-era secrecy law. Suu Kyi and U Win Myint have already pleaded not guilty to charges of incitement in September. If convicted, Suu Kyi could face decades in jail, since each charge carries a maximum of three years in prison.
Last November, in Myanmar’s second parliamentary election since the end of oppressive military rule in 2011, the NLD won in a landslide victory, securing 83% of the contested seats. Simultaneously, the Tatmadaw’s proxy political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), failed to gain traction with the public, winning an abysmal 7% of total available seats.
Seeing the overwhelming support for the NLD, the military baselessly alleged widespread voter fraud despite international observers asserting that the 2020 polls were largely free and fair. The military, also known as the Tatmadaw, seized control of the government for one year by reinforcing its dominance via a coup on February 1.
Following this, several high-level politicians, including Suu Kyi and Win Myint, were placed under house arrest. Nearly 1,250 civilians have been killed, and over 10,000 have been arrested for demanding the country’s return to democracy and the release of their former democratic leaders.
Last month, Myanmar’s junta re-arrested more than 100 pro-democracy activists shortly after the country’s state television had announced that more than 5,600 people who were arrested or wanted over their roles in pro-democracy protests would be freed in an amnesty on humanitarian grounds.