Myanmar Brings More Charges Against Suu Kyi, Protests Continue
2021-03-02
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1Myanmar's former leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared at a court hearing using video conferencing on Monday.
2Her supporters, however, marched in several towns and cities.
3They ignored a crackdown following the deadliest day since February 1, the day that the military seized power in the country.
4Suu Kyi appeared to be in good health during her appearance before a court in the capital Naypyidaw, one of her lawyers said.
5Two more charges were added to those already brought against her after the military takeover, she said.
6"I saw Amay on the video, she looks healthy," lawyer Min Min Soe told Reuters.
7She used the respectful word for "mother" to describe Suu Kyi, as many people in the country do.
8Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize-winner.
9She also leads the National League for Democracy (NLD).
10She has not been seen in public since the military dismissed parliament.
11She was detained along with other party leaders at that time.
12At first, she was charged with importing six illegal communications devices.
13Later, the charge of violating coronavirus restriction laws was added.
14On Monday, two more charges were added.
15The first was illegally publishing information that may "cause fear or alarm."
16A lawyer said the other charge was under a telecommunications law that requires special permission for some equipment.
17The next hearing will be on March 15. Critics of the military's seizure of power say the charges were false.
18Police fired tear gas and noise makers to break up hundreds of protesters in the main city of Yangon on Monday, witnesses said.
19They later searched streets firing rubber bullets. Local media reported that least one person was hurt.
20Demonstrators also marched on Monday in the northwestern town of Kale holding up pictures of Suu Kyi.
21A live video stream on Facebook showed protestors in the northeastern city of Lashio.
22Police and soldiers later raided a Christian religious center in the town and detained 11 people, a Christian group said in a statement.
23There have been protests in Myanmar every day since the military took power after claiming that the November election, won by the NLD, was unfair.
24The protests are becoming increasingly violent as police and the military try to stop them.
25On Sunday, police fired on protestors in several places killing 18 people, the United Nations human rights office said.
26"We have to continue the protest no matter what," Thar Nge said after police forced him and others to leave a Yangon street.
27"This is my neighborhood. It's a lovely neighborhood but now we're hearing gunfire and we don't feel safe," he added.
28The military has not commented on Sunday's violence.
29Police and military spokesmen did not answer requests for comment.
30The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper warned that "severe action will inevitably be taken" against protestors.
31The military's takeover brought an end to Myanmar's small steps toward democracy that followed nearly 50 years of military rule.
32The action has been condemned by Western countries and concern is growing among Myanmar's neighbors.
33Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to discuss the situation on Tuesday during a video meeting.
34Myanmar is a member of ASEAN.
35The organization will listen "to the representative of the Myanmar military," Singapore's foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, told parliament.
36Balakrishnan called for the security forces to stop using deadly force, for Suu Kyi to be released, and for talks to find a way back to democracy.
37U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced what he called "abhorrent violence" by security forces.
38Canada's foreign minister, Marc Garneau, called the use of deadly force "appalling."
39U.N. special rapporteur Tom Andrews said the international community had to answer Myanmar's military because it will continue to use deadly force.
40He suggested an arms embargo, more sanctions on military businesses and sending cases to the International Criminal Court.
41"We must act," Andrews said in a statement.
42I'm Susan Shand.
1Myanmar's former leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared at a court hearing using video conferencing on Monday. 2Her supporters, however, marched in several towns and cities. They ignored a crackdown following the deadliest day since February 1, the day that the military seized power in the country. 3Suu Kyi appeared to be in good health during her appearance before a court in the capital Naypyidaw, one of her lawyers said. Two more charges were added to those already brought against her after the military takeover, she said. 4"I saw Amay on the video, she looks healthy," lawyer Min Min Soe told Reuters. She used the respectful word for "mother" to describe Suu Kyi, as many people in the country do. 5Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize-winner. She also leads the National League for Democracy (NLD). She has not been seen in public since the military dismissed parliament. She was detained along with other party leaders at that time. 6At first, she was charged with importing six illegal communications devices. Later, the charge of violating coronavirus restriction laws was added. 7On Monday, two more charges were added. The first was illegally publishing information that may "cause fear or alarm." A lawyer said the other charge was under a telecommunications law that requires special permission for some equipment. 8The next hearing will be on March 15. Critics of the military's seizure of power say the charges were false. 9'Severe action' 10Police fired tear gas and noise makers to break up hundreds of protesters in the main city of Yangon on Monday, witnesses said. They later searched streets firing rubber bullets. Local media reported that least one person was hurt. 11Demonstrators also marched on Monday in the northwestern town of Kale holding up pictures of Suu Kyi. A live video stream on Facebook showed protestors in the northeastern city of Lashio. Police and soldiers later raided a Christian religious center in the town and detained 11 people, a Christian group said in a statement. 12There have been protests in Myanmar every day since the military took power after claiming that the November election, won by the NLD, was unfair. The protests are becoming increasingly violent as police and the military try to stop them. 13On Sunday, police fired on protestors in several places killing 18 people, the United Nations human rights office said. 14"We have to continue the protest no matter what," Thar Nge said after police forced him and others to leave a Yangon street. 15"This is my neighborhood. It's a lovely neighborhood but now we're hearing gunfire and we don't feel safe," he added. 16The military has not commented on Sunday's violence. Police and military spokesmen did not answer requests for comment. The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper warned that "severe action will inevitably be taken" against protestors. 17The military's takeover brought an end to Myanmar's small steps toward democracy that followed nearly 50 years of military rule. The action has been condemned by Western countries and concern is growing among Myanmar's neighbors. 18Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to discuss the situation on Tuesday during a video meeting. Myanmar is a member of ASEAN. 19The organization will listen "to the representative of the Myanmar military," Singapore's foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, told parliament. Balakrishnan called for the security forces to stop using deadly force, for Suu Kyi to be released, and for talks to find a way back to democracy. 20U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced what he called "abhorrent violence" by security forces. Canada's foreign minister, Marc Garneau, called the use of deadly force "appalling." 21U.N. special rapporteur Tom Andrews said the international community had to answer Myanmar's military because it will continue to use deadly force. He suggested an arms embargo, more sanctions on military businesses and sending cases to the International Criminal Court. 22"We must act," Andrews said in a statement. 23I'm Susan Shand. 24The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 25____________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27crackdown - n. a serious attempt to punish people for doing something this is not permitted; a sudden increased effort to enforce the rule of law 28inevitably -adv. in a way that is sure to happen 29abhorrent - adj. causing or deserving strong dislike or hatred 30appalling - adj. very bad, in a way that causes fear or shock 31rapporteur - n. (foreign) a person whose job is to do research and present official reports on a subject 32sanctions - n.(pl.) actions taken to force a country to obey international law by limiting or stopping trade or cutting economic aid 33We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.