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- As deadly protests continue to erupt around Myanmar following February’s coup, military officials have accused former leader Aung San Suu Kyi of accepting bribes while in office
- The military government has accused former State Counsellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi of accepting illegal payments worth US$600,000 (around A$771,000) and gold as bribes
- On top of this, the junta has accused deposed president Win Myint and many cabinet ministers of engaging in corrupt activities
- These include pressuring Myanmar’s election commission to not look into report and irregularities in last November’s election
- The accusations come as the death toll from protests around Myanmar rises to about 70 people
- Soldiers and police have opened fire on pro-democracy protesters in an attempt to quell the outcry against the military government overthrow
- Several countries around the globe have introduced sanctions against Myanmar as international calls mount to restore democracy in the nation.
As deadly protests continue to erupt around Myanmar following February’s coup, military officials have accused former leader Aung San Suu Kyi of accepting bribes while in office.
A spokesperson for the junta, Zaw Min Tun, accused the former State Counsellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of accepting illegal payments worth US$600,000 (around A$771,000) as well as gold as bribes.
The military spokesperson said the accusations were first made by the former chief minister of Burma’s Yangon region, and the information has since been verified.
On top of this, the junta has accused deposed president Win Myint and many cabinet ministers of corrupt activities like pressuring Myanmar’s election commission to not look into reports of irregularities in last November’s election.
Adding corruption charges to the accusations already laid out by the junta against Myanmar’s former government would increase the penalty faced by previous ministers under the new forced leadership.
Already, former minister Aung San Suu Kyi faces four minor charges including importing walkie talkies, ignoring COVID-19 protocols, and sparking “fear and alarm” with illegal communication.
Pro-democracy protests won’t cease
The fresh allegations against the former Myanmar government come as protests against the February 1 coup continue to mount across the country.
The death toll since the coup is estimated to be around 70 people as soldiers and police open fire on crowds in an attempt to quell the ongoing protests.
Just yesterday, it’s estimated that at least 16 pro-democracy protesters were killed in different parts of the country, though the exact number has not been verified.
Several countries around the globe have suspended military ties with Myanmar and introduced sanctions against the country as international calls mount to restore democracy in the nation.
So far, the sanctions and severed relationships have had no effect on the junta that seized control of Myanmar last month.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said earlier this week Canberra has “grave concerns” over the escalating violence in Myanmar.
“We condemn the use of lethal force or violence against civilians exercising their universal rights, including the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” Minister Payne said.
“We continue to strongly urge the Myanmar security forces to exercise restraint and refrain from violence against civilians.”
