August 2, 2023 || Tongsan Media Group ||
The coup military council announced today (August 1) that the military has granted remission of sentences for the cases filed in 2021 against National League for Democracy (NLD) party chairwoman Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint, who were arrested and imprisoned by the military.
State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to 6 years in prison for the first five cases brought by the Military Council. General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the Military Council, told some media that the 4-year prison sentence for the two cases against President U Win Myint has been reduced.
February 1, 2021 Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been arrested since the coup d’état, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for 19 cases, and President U Win Myint, who was transferred from Nay Pyi Taw to Taungngo Prison, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for 8 cases. Then, in December 2021, the military council reduced Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint’s prison terms to 2 years each for the first time.
A person close to the court said that the second military council reduced the prison sentence, but the cases covered are only cases that are nearing the end of their sentences. “The two-year prison sentence that was previously reduced has been included in the five cases that have been reduced. The rest of the cases are not valid. There is nothing special about reducing it like this. In some cases, there is not much punishment left,” he added.
The coup army still detained Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw Prison, and President U Win Myint was transferred from Nay Pyi Taw to Taungngo Prison. The head of the military council’s press release said today that he has not heard anything about the news that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from Nay Pyi Taw prison to a home.
Lawyer U Gyi Myint said that the commutation of the sentences of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint is a good prospect for peace in the country and is due to the influence of the people’s armed movement. “We took up guns and the whole people bowed down after 1990. This time we will not bow down.” “I think it’s the effect of saying that we, like you, are going to fight back with our guns,” he said.
However, veteran lawyer U Gyi Myint also noted that the military is using the amnesty as a weapon, and members of the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) should continue to follow the armed path without compromise. “We cannot discount the armed path we are taking. We must build our strength. If we hold guns, they will respect us.”
Union Prime Minister Mann Win Khaing Than of the National Unity Government (NUG) has expressed that even if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is released, they will not deviate from the political paths they are developing.
“We pay attention to the will of the people. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also emphasized the will of the people. I would like to say at this meeting that we are not changing. As long as the 2008 (Constitution) exists, it will not be possible to establish a federal democratic union. The main terrorist group needs to be brought down,” he said clearly.
7,749 prisoners in various prisons were also allowed to be released with reduced sentences. 22 ethnic armed members The military council also announced that 72 associates and 125 foreigners were pardoned. As of July 31, 24,123 people have been arrested since the military coup and 158 people have been sentenced to death, the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners (AAPP) announced yesterday.
Source: Myanmar Now
Translated in English: Tongsan Admin Team
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