Myanmar's official electoral commission said Tuesday that it will prosecute deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi and more than a dozen other senior political leaders over last year's election that directly led to the military takeover in February.
The junta and state-run elections commission announced charges against Suu Kyi and 15 other top civilian leaders who were removed during the coup on Feb. 1.
Military Myanmar gov't charges deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi with election fraud, 'lawlessness' https://t.co/tZishdg0zu pic.twitter.com/zj9kzMomrZ
— Zyite.news (@ZyiteGadgets) November 16, 2021
The charges were first announced in the state-run Global New Light newspaper.
Myanmar's military took over the civilian government on claims that the election a year ago was fraudulent and illegitimate.
Tuesday, the elections commission said the charges against the civilian leaders are based in electoral fraud and "lawless actions."
Among multiple claims, the charges say that Suu Kyi and the others broke the law by assigning election sub-commissions and wrongly adding names to voter lists.
If the Myanmar junta has to say that it's treating Aung San Suu Kyi well, rather than letting her speak for herself, odds are that it's not treating her well. https://t.co/jedGfEdyXF] pic.twitter.com/g0TNjXZstV
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) November 16, 2021
Suu Kyi, 76, already faces a number of charges related to the election and her leadership immediately prior to the Feb. 1 coup, including using unauthorized walkie talkies and violating coronavirus restrictions.
Officials of the junta government have said that new elections will take place in Myanmar within two years.
Many international watchdogs and Western nations have condemned the military takeover and rejected claims that last year's election was illegitimate.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
