After Asean meeting, Myanmar junta again postpones Suu Kyi’s trial

Suu Kyi has been under house arrest, with the junta charging her under six cases – including for sedition and having unlicensed walkie-talkies

Twelve weeks since she was detained, her lawyers say they are still not allowed to meet their client face to face

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Anti-coup protesters march on a street in Yangon on April 24, 2021. Photo: AP

Published: 5:54pm, 26 Apr 2021Updated: 5:54pm, 26 Apr 2021

Myanmar’s junta again postponed court proceedings against deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, her lawyers said on Monday, as they fight for permission to visit her 12 weeks after she was detained.

The country has been in turmoil since the military ousted the de facto leader in a February 1 coup, shunting Myanmar back into junta rule after a brief experiment with democracy.

Large swathes of the population have taken to the streets in protest, with security forces unleashing a brutal campaign to quell the massive uprising.

Suu Kyi has been under house arrest, with the junta charging her under six cases – including for sedition and having unlicensed walkie-talkies.

But movement on her case was once again delayed until May 10, her lawyer Min Min Soe said Monday after a hearing.

Twelve weeks since Suu Kyi was detained, Min Min Soe said they still have not received permission to meet their client face-to-face – one of many hurdles the team has faced.

“When the judge asked (police) which stage they have reached, they replied they couldn’t tell specifically,” she said, adding that Suu Kyi was frustrated by the slow pace. “I think she is not getting access to watch news and TV. I do not think she knows the current situation happening in the country.”

Demonstrators call for democracy during an antimilitary coup protest in Mandalay on April 26, 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE