Arrested By The Military Regime, Aung San Suu Kyi Runs Out Of Money For Food And Medicine

JAKARTA - The panel of judges for the trial of Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi has decided that the trial of the case she is currently undergoing must be completed within the next 180 days.

Zabuthiri Township Judge Maung Maung Lwin made the remarks in his second face-to-face hearing on Monday, June 7, since he and members of his cabinet were first indicted on February 16.

Aung Suu Kyi faces a total of six charges, five in Naypyitaw and one in Yangon with a sentence of 26 years awaiting her. The trial deadline set applies to cases tried in Naypyitaw.

Monday's hearing was held in an exclusive court specially designed for the trials of Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and Council Chair Naypyitaw Myo Aung.

"Starting next week, hearings will take place every Monday and Tuesday, with the court finalizing the plaintiff's questions on June 28," the judge said at the trial.

Suu Kyi faces charges of inciting and violating the Official Secrets Act and the Telecommunications Act. He was also charged with illegally importing walkie-talkies and faced two counts of violating COVID-19 protocols during last year's election campaign.

"Trials for the sedition case will take place every Monday along with Win Myint and Myo Aung, who are being tried for the same offenses," said the head of Suu Kyi's defense team, Khin Maung Zaw, the head of her defense team.

"Suu Kyi learned for the first time on Monday that the Supreme Court in Naypyitaw has taken over the case brought against her under the Official Secrets Act," Khin Maung Zaw continued.

The case, which also applies to three of his cabinet ministers and his economic adviser Sean Turnell, was originally filed in Yangon's Eastern District Court in late March.

The Supreme Court announced on May 31 that the next hearing in the case would be held on June 23. It also stated that the defendants would represent themselves.

However, her lawyer said that this decision was made without Suu Kyi's consent.

"He said he didn't know about the change. He also didn't say he would represent himself. He wanted his lawyer to represent him in all his cases," Khin Maung Zaw told Myanmar Now.

Prior to the hour-long trial, Suu Kyi met with her defense team for about 30 minutes. During the meeting, Suu Kyi asked for help finding ways to meet the costs incurred during her detention.

Suu Kyi has been detained at an undisclosed location along with eight other people and her pet dog Taichido, according to her defense team.

"He spends his own money, without anyone's support, month after month. So he asked us to see how we can help with this," said Khin Maung Zaw.

"The family he lives with is running out of money. The military council has said they will give him the medicine he needs every two weeks, but he doesn't want it," said Min Min Soe, another lawyer on his legal team.

Lawyers say they need to negotiate with Myanmar's military regime to provide an emergency budget for detained Aung San Suu Kyi and those living with her.

"Otherwise, Suu Kyi seems pretty good in the situation. She is generally healthy," Khin Maung Zaw said.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in that one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.