Myanmar junta govt charges Suu Kyi with 2020 polls fraud
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 (16:12 IST)
New Delhi: The Myanmar Junta government on Tuesday added fresh charges of electoral fraud against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her associates for abuse of power, local media reports said.
Apart from Suu Kyi, former President U Win Myint and the former head of the Elections Commission were among those accused of “election fraud and lawless actions” during the November polls, which Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won with a landslide.
According to state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, the 16 people have been accused of violating a number of electoral laws, including using military polling booths, advance voting for people above 60 years of age and including names of people who had no voting rights.
Since the military’s takeover, Suu Kyi has been detained and charged with a list of offences.
Military’s control over power was needed because of fraud in the election. But, according to polls observers, election was free and fair.
Suu Kyi has been put under house arrest. The fresh military coup ended a 10-year experiment with democracy which mandated a guaranteed role of the military in government under a military-drafted constitution. (UNI)