Myanmar Military Regime Orders Aung San Suu Kyi's Lawyer To Be Silenced

Aung San Suu Kyi. (Wikimedia Commons/Htoo Tay Zar)

JAKARTA - The chief lawyer representing Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, revealed the surprising fact that the military regime imposed a gag order against her, as her communications could cause instability.

Myanmar's state media has not reported developments in Suu Kyi's legal cases, which were filed after she was ousted in a February coup, and her lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, has been the only public source of information about her trial and well-being.

In a Facebook post, as Suu Kyi's lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw said she had been barred from speaking to the media, diplomats, international organizations and foreign governments and then posting details of the order.

"Khin Maung Zaw's communications can cause harassment, hurt someone who acts in accordance with the law, can cause unrest and destabilize public peace," the order said.

"Some local and foreign media, illegal media and media inciting false information that can destabilize the country," the order continued.

A spokesman for the ruling military did not answer a call for comment.

It is understood Aung San Suu Kyi has been held in an undisclosed location since the February 1 coup with no means of communicating with the outside world other than through her lawyer, whom she only meets in court.

He was charged with a range of offences, including violating coronavirus protocol, illegally importing and possessing a two-way radio, inciting to raise public alarm and violating the Official Secrets Act.

In his latest correspondence with the media, Khin Maung Zaw on Tuesday provided via text message a summary of the testimony of Suu Kyi's co-defendant, ousted President Win Myint, who told the court the military regime had asked her to resign hours before the coup, warning her otherwise it would harmed. He said he refused.

The lawyer said Suu Kyi had asked him to publish Win Myint's testimony, his first account of what happened before the coup.

Separately, Myanmar military regime spokesman Zaw Min Tun, in written remarks on Wednesday, said Suu Kyi's case was handled fairly by an independent court.

The Myanmar Coup. VOI editors continue to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Civilian casualties continue to fall. Readers can follow news about the Myanmar military coup by tapping this link.