Myanmar Supreme Court Decides Aung San Suu Kyi's Trial Held Offline

Aung San Suu Kyi. (Wikimedia Commons/Michał Józefaciuk)

JAKARTA - Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to attend her next hearing in person, her lawyer said on Monday, May 10.

This has been a breath of fresh air for Aung San Suu Kyi after her first trial in February, a virtual trial. But lately, it is often delayed due to internet network restrictions.

Since her arrest hours before the February 1 military coup, Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained at her residence in Naypyitaw and faces many, mostly light charges filed in two courts, most seriously under colonial-era official covert action with the threat of a 14-year prison sentence.

"The presiding judge stated that with the instructions of the Union Supreme Court, the cases will be tried in person, not virtually via video conference," the head of his legal team, Khin Maung Zaw, said in a text message, referring to Monday's hearing, as reported by Reuters on Monday, May 10.

"The judge told us, the matter will eventually be resolved and Suu Kyi asks what the judge means in the end," he said.

So far, Suu Kyi has been allowed to speak to lawyers only via video link in front of security officials. It was a matter of objection to Suu Kyi and her team of lawyers, for violating the rights set out in the trial.

Her lawyers say they are only discussing with Suu Kyi her legal case and do not know the extent to which she is aware of the crisis in her country.

Khin Maung Zaw said his team was seeking access to Suu Kyi before her next hearing on May 24, without anyone else's intervention.

"I remind the judge, it is the defendant's undeniable right to meet and instruct the defense in a private meeting," he said.

In relation to the ban on Suu Kyi's meeting with her team of lawyers, Myanmar Military Regime Spokesman Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun as reported by Russian news agency RIA some time ago said the ban was issued officially by the regime.

Zaw Min Tun said the first reason behind the ban was national security and the COVID-19 pandemic. Suu Kyi is therefore barred from meeting her lawyers in person.

However, the main reason behind the ban is that Suu Kyi's concerns have been in contact with the protesters. This concern is recognized by Zaw Min Tun.

It said Myanmar's military regime had received information about possible leaders of military anti-coup protests, planning to contact Suu Kyi through her lawyer.

"Behind his lawyer's request, there may be other reasons. They may have made illegal communications and asked for directions (to protest)," said Zaw Min Tun, as reported by Myanmar Now.

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.