More than eight months after she was detained by the military in a coup, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar¡¯s ousted civilian government, and her lawyers mounted her defense for the first time Tuesday in a closed-door hearing.
Suu Kyi, 76, appeared in a courtroom specially built for her in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, where the prosecution has spent the last several months presenting its case on charges of ¡°inciting public unrest,¡± illegally importing walkie-talkies and breaching coronavirus regulations.
No journalists, diplomats or members of the public have been allowed in court. Suu Kyi¡¯s testimony was not made public and the junta has barred all five of her lawyers from speaking to the media, saying their communications could ¡°destabilize the country.¡± If convicted of all 11 charges against her, she could be sentenced to a maximum of 102 years in prison.
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