Nineteen people have been sentenced to death in Myanmar by a military tribunal over charges of killing a member of the armed forces. Myanmar has been in a state of turmoil since February 1, when, in a coup, the military ousted defacto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. So far, at least 614 bystanders and protestors have lost their lives, in the military’s attempt to crack down on the protests.
0f the 19 defendants, 17 were tried in absentia. The military is searching for them. On Friday, a crackdown by the military on crowds protesting across the country resulted in 100 deaths.
The 19 have been charged with a killing that took place on March 27 in the North Okkalapa district of Yangon, which is now under martial law.
The military government said that the protest campaign against them was dwindling because the people wanted peace. They also said that they would hold elections within two years. Junta spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun told CNN that the country was governing bodies and banks will resume operations soon.
"We stand together to support the hopes and aspirations of all those who believe in a free, just, peaceful and democratic Myanmar. Violence has to stop, all political detainees must be released and democracy must be restored,” said the ambassadors of the Us, Britain, the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland and several other European nations, via statement.
Suu Kyi, who has been in detention since the coup, face several charges including that of corruption, illegal possession of walkie talkies and disseminating information that could cause disrupt public tranquility.
