24th May, 2021
Agency Reports
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in person at a court hearing on Monday for the first time since her government was ousted by the military in a Feb. 1 coup.
Suu Kyi looked in good health and held a face-to-face meeting with her legal team for about 30 minutes before the hearing, lawyer Thae Maung Maung told Reuters.
Suu Kyi, 75, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her efforts to build democracy, is among more than 4,000 people detained since the coup.
She faces charges that range from illegally possessing walkie-talkie radios to violating a state secrets law.
The ousted leader “wished people good health” in her meeting with her lawyers.
She also made an apparent reference to her National League for Democracy party that could be dissolved soon.
“She said the party was established for the people so the party will be there as long as the people are,” Thae Maung Maung said.
Myanmar’s junta-appointed election commission will dissolve Suu Kyi’s political party for vote fraud in a November election, media reported on Friday, citing a commissioner, who threatened action against “traitors” involved.
The army seized power claiming fraud in an election won by Suu Kyi’s party in November.
Its accusations had been dismissed by the former electoral commission.
In his first interview with foreign media since the coup, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing had also said Suu Kyi was in good health.
He also disputed the number of people killed by security forces in protests since the coup.
Source: Reuters/NAN