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Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi Charged With Illegally Importing Walkie-Talkies

VOA News

   Authorities in Myanmar have filed charges against detained de facto
   leader Aung San Suu Kyi for violating import-export laws, two days
   after the military seized power.

   A press officer for her National League for Democracy party said
   Wednesday on his official Facebook page that Aung San Suu Kyi was
   ordered held for two weeks. NLD legislator Phyo Zayar Thaw also
   confirmed the charges.

   She was detained along with other leaders, including President Win
   Myint, on Monday as the military staged a coup.

   A police document alleges Aung San Suu Kyi illegally imported and used
   without consent six unregistered walkie-talkie radios that were found
   in a search of her home in the capital of Naypyitaw.

   The document indicates the communications equipment was for her
   bodyguards. It also says Aung San Suu Kyi's detention was requested "in
   order to question witnesses, request evidence and seek legal counsel
   after questioning of the defendant."

   Authorities also charged Win Myint with violating coronavirus
   containment measures while campaigning for last November's election,
   according to a separate police document.

   Court, police and government officials did not immediately comment, but
   the chair of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights denounced the
   charges as nonsensical. ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian
   Nations.

   "This is an absurd move by the junta to try to legitimize their illegal
   power grab," Charles Santiago said in a statement.

   The NLD party also said in a statement Wednesday that authorities had
   raided its offices in multiple regions of the country.

   Foreign ministers from the G-7 group of nations on Wednesday condemned
   the coup.

   "We are deeply concerned by the detention of political leaders and
   civil society activists, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi
   and President Win Myint, and targeting of the media," the foreign
   ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United
   States said in a statement.'¯

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