Myanmar’s military government accuses UN of interference after Aung San Suu Kyi conviction

The junta said the United Nations interfered in the judicial process and internal affairs of Myanmar when criticising the jail sentence handed to the deposed leader

Protesters in Myanmar closed businesses and stayed off the streets on Friday in a ‘silent strike’ against military rule

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Myanmar’s military has criticised the UN for comments it made after the conviction of Aung San Suu Kyi. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:37pm, 10 Dec 2021Updated: 3:29pm, 10 Dec 2021

Myanmar’s military government accused senior United Nations officials on Thursday of interference and making judgments based on “distorted news”, days after a storm of international criticism over the jailing of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet was among several officials who denounced the conviction on Monday of Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s elected leader who was ousted in a February 1 coup.

“It is not appropriate to make one-sided judgment against the decision of the court which falls within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign country. Such acts constitute interference in the judiciary process and internal affairs of Myanmar,” the junta’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Suu Kyi, 76, was sentenced to four years, commuted to two, for incitement and Covid-19 violations, the first among nearly a dozen cases against her. She denies all the charges.

Of the verdict, the ministry said everyone was equal before the court and no one above the law.

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