Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s jail term has India ‘disturbed’

India expressed deep concern at the conviction of Myanmar’s deposed
leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A statement issued by Arindam Bagchi, the foreign ministry
spokesperson, reflected the government’s disturbed stance. It iterated that India,
as a neighbouring democracy, has always supported a democratic transition in
Myanmar. Now, in light of the military coup, the government has asked for
democratic and legal processes to be upheld in the country.

Notably, Myanmar experienced a military coup, where the generals seized
power as of February 1, 2021. A court then found Aung San Suu Kyi guilty of certain charges,
which have been widely disregarded as politically motivated, and sentenced her
to jail at an undisclosed location. She was initially given a four-year sentence,
which was pardoned and cut to half by Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief and coup
leader.

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Aung San Suu Kyi was charged with incitement and violating COVID-19
norms, and this is the first of a dozen cases that she faced from the military.
The trial itself was closed to media personnel and the military prevented the
deposed leader’s lawyers from communicating with the public or media.

While Aung San Suu Kyi has denied all charges, the UN human rights
investigator, looking into the Myanmar situation, has urged other countries to
increase economic pressure on the generals. The message urged the Myanmar
people to deny the junta access to revenue and weapons, that allow them to
maintain this illegitimate grip on citizens.

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The deposed leader is no stranger to military coups and spent years under
house arrest until she managed to lead the National League for Democracy (NLD)
party to a landslide victory in 2015. However, the military have justified its
coup saying the election was rigged, though the commission has found no
evidence of fraud.

Currently, the situation in Myanmar is tense, and the nation is in turmoil
since the coup. Only if the international community steps up to protect civilians
and hold the perpetrators accountable, can some semblance of law and order
return to Myanmar.