Myanmar ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi made her first court appearance since the February 1 military coup. Kyi voiced her defiance over threats of her party National League for Democracy (NLD) party getting dissolved. NLD swept the 2020 elections and is facing allegations of voter fraud by the junta. 

Since the coup, Myanmar has been in a state of unrest with near-daily protests and nationwide civil disobedience movement. 

In order to control the mass dissent, the junta has killed over 800 civilians, according to a local monitor group. 

Min Min Soe, Kyi’s lawyer, said that the ousted civilian leader is “healthy and fully confident”, reported AFP. 

“She wishes her people to stay healthy as well as affirmed the NLD will exist as long as people exist because it was founded for people,” said Soe. 

Kyi faces a range of criminal charges of flouting coronavirus restrictions during 2020 election campaigns, possessing illegal walkie-talkie radios and violating the Official Secrets Act, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years. 

Her case has been delayed by weeks and her lawyers have been struggling to gain access to her. 

According to Min Min Soe, the next hearing was set for June 7. 

Senior advisor on Myanmar to the International Crisis Group told AFP that the meeting that was finally allowed suggested that the regime is feeling more confident, despite the ongoing crisis and protests. 

Also read: Pope urges peace, unity in special mass for Myanmar

Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, has a heavy security presence with roads leading up to the specially constructed courthouse blocked through police trucks, reported an AFP correspondent. 

When the military announced a one-year state of emergency, they said it would be followed by a fresh multi-party election. 

In an attempt to undermine the junta, lawmakers who were previously part of the NLD have formed the “National Unity Government”.  The junta has classified them as “terrorists”.