Myanmar ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi faces fresh corruption charges

Myanmar's military junta has charged deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi with fresh corruption charges, state-run media reported Thursday.

Suu Kyi has committed ‘corruption using her rank’ as per evidence found by the Anti-Corruption Commission. “She was charged under anti-Corruption Law section 55,” state-run media Global New Light of Myanmar reported. 

The Southeast Asian nation has plunged into a state of chaos ever since the military ousted democratic leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi on February 1. Protestors have been taking to the street, demanding the release of Suu Kyi and that democracy be restored. Suu Kyi has ever since been charged with illegal possession of walkie-talkies and of dispensing information that has led to a chaotic situation in the state.

Suu Kyi now has been slapped with charges of misuse of land for the charitable Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, which she chaired. If found guilty, Suu Kyi could face up to 15 years in prison. 

So far 849 people have lost their lives since the coup and 5,800 have been detained. The situation grows dire as essential supplies like food and medicine are in short supply. Fuel prices have rocketed. With the military forces maintaining an aggressive stance, over 100,000 people from Kayah province have fled to forests neighbouring the state of Shan to take cover. In justifying the coup, the Myanmar military alleges that the National League for Democracy led by Suu Kyi won the 2020 elections using fraudulent methods. 

Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur for Myanmar, wrote on Twitter, “Mass deaths from starvation, disease and exposure could occur in Kayah State after many of the 100,000 forced to flee into forests from junta bombs are now cut off from food, water and medicine by the junta. The international community must act.”

With his tweet, he also posted a statement of happenings in the region.