Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi found guilty in widely criticized trial

Aung San Suu Kyi, the civilian leader of Myanmar who was ousted in a de facto coup this year, was convicted on two charges Monday and handed a four-year sentence that was quickly cut in half in proceedings widely criticized as a further effort by the country's military rulers to roll back the democratic gains of recent years.

The convictions serve to cement a dramatic reversal of fortunes for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who spent 15 years under house arrest for resisting the Southeast Asian nation's generals but then agreed to work alongside them when they promised to usher in democratic rule.

Monday's verdict was the first in a series of cases brought against 76-year-old Suu Kyi since her arrest on Feb. 1, the day the army seized power and prevented her National League for Democracy party from starting a second term in office.

If found guilty of all the charges she faces, Suu Kyi could be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison. She is being held by the military at an unknown location and state television reported that she would serve her sentence there.

Military leader orderedsentence reduced

Thesentence was reduced hours after it was handed down in what the report said was an amnesty ordered by the country's military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.

The court earlier offered a 10-month reduction in the sentence for time served, according to a legal official, who relayed the verdict to The Associated Press and who insisted on anonymity for fear of being punished by the authorities. The state TV report did not mention any credit for time served.

The army seized power claiming massive voting fraud in the November 2020 election, which Suu Kyi's party won in a landslide. Independent election observers did not detect any major irregularities.

Opposition to the takeover sprang up almost immediately and remains strong, with armed resistance spreading after the military's violent crackdown on peaceful protests. The verdict could inflame tensions even further.

Cases widely seenas a sham

The cases against Suu Kyi are widely seen as contrived to discredit her and keep her from running in the next election since the constitution bars anyone sent to prison after being convicted of a crime from holding high office or becoming a lawmaker.

In a statement issued late Monday night, Foreign Affairs MinisterMlanie Jolysaid Canada condemnsthe convictions ofSuu Kyianda co-defendant, former president Win Myint.

"Today's convictions follow trials that met no standard of impartiality and are emblematic of the regime's blatant disregard for human rights and judicial independence," she said.

Jolycalled for"the release of all those arbitrarily detained, including political prisoners, as well as the immediate cessation of violence."

Yanghee Lee, the former UNspecial rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, described the charges as well as the verdict as "bogus," while UNHigh Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet call the proceedings a "sham trial."

WATCH |Suu Kyi sentences 'ridiculous,' says Asia rights group:

Suu Kyi sentences 'ridiculous,' says Asia rights group

3 years ago

Duration 0:59

Myanmar's military is using a 'kangaroo court' to lock away the country's pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, forever, says Human Rights Watch Asia's deputy director Phil Robertson. (The Associated Press)

Rights groups also deplored the verdict, with Amnesty International calling it "the latest example of the military's determination to eliminate all opposition and suffocate freedoms in Myanmar."

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said the trial was just the beginning of a process that "will most likely ensure that Suu Kyi is never allowed to be a free woman again."

Suu Kyi still revered at home

As is typical, China, a neighbour that has maintained friendly ties with Myanmar's military leaders, declined to criticize the verdict.

Beijing hopes "all parties in Myanmar will bear in mind the long-term interests of the country, narrow differences and carry on the hard-won democratic transition process," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters Monday.

Suu Kyi is widely revered at home for her role in the country's pro-democracy movement and was long viewed abroad as an icon of that struggle, epitomized by her 15 years under house arrest.

But since her release in 2010 and return to politics, she has been heavily criticized for the gamble she made: showing deference to the military while ignoring and, at times, even defending rights violations most notably a 2017 crackdown on Rohingya Muslims that rights groups have labelled genocide.

While she has disputed allegations that army personnel killed Rohingya civilians, torched houses and raped women,she remains immensely popular at home, though stance has tarnished her reputation abroad.

Trials closed to spectators

On Monday, she faced an incitement charge that centredon statements posted on the Facebook page of Suu Kyi's party after she and other party leaders were detained by the military. She was accused of spreading false or inflammatory information that could disturb public order. In addition, she was accused of violating coronavirus restrictions for her appearance at a campaign event ahead of the elections last year.

Government officials could not immediately be reached for more details about Monday's ruling by a special court, a legacy of British colonial rule that is most often used for political cases.

Suu Kyi's trials are closed to the media and spectators, and her lawyers, who had been a source of information on the proceedings, were served with gag orders in October forbidding them from releasing information.

Defence lawyers are expected to file appeals in the coming days for Suu Kyi and two colleagues who were also convicted Monday, the legal official who relayed the verdict said. They have argued that Suu Kyi and Win Myintcould not be held responsible for the statements on which the incitement charge was based because they were already in detention when the statements were posted. Win Myint's sentence was reduced along with Suu Kyi's.

1,300 civilians killed

February's seizure of power was met by nonviolent nationwide demonstrations, which security forces quashed with deadly force. They have killed about 1,300 civilians, according to a detailed tally compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Amid the severe crackdown on peaceful protests, armed resistance has grown in the cities and countryside, to the point that UNexperts have warned the country is sliding into civil war.

Protest marches on Sunday against the military government called for the release of Suu Kyi and others.

Decisions in other cases against Suu Kyi are expected Dec. 13 and 14. Other cases against her include the alleged unregistered import and use of walkie-talkies by her security guards; a violation of the Official Secrets Act, in which jailed Australian economist Sean Turnell is a co-defendant; and corruption charges.

The military-appointed election commission has also announced it intends to prosecute Suu Kyi and 15 other senior political figures for alleged fraud in the last election, which could result in her party being dissolved.

The military says its takeover was lawful and not a coup because the 2008 constitution implemented under military rule allows it to take control in certain emergencies. It argues that the 2020 general election contained widespread irregularities and thus constituted such an emergency.

However, the state election commission and the independent poll watching group ANFREL both said there was no evidence of substantial electoral fraud, and the new government so far has not presented convincing proof. Critics assert that the takeover bypassed the legal process for declaring an emergency because two key members who are supposed to take part in those consultations, Win Myint and Suu Kyi, were arrested beforehand.