The trial of Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi was set to start on Monday, as the junta that overthrew her elected government rejected criticism by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights over its use of deadly force against protesters.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the junta seized power on Feb. 1 and detained Suu Kyi and other senior members of her party, unleashing daily protests and fighting between the armed forces and ethnic minority guerrilla forces and militias.
Suu Kyi, 75, is due to face trial on Monday on charges of breaching coronavirus regulations while campaigning for the election she won last November and also for possession of unlicensed walkie-talkies.
The first trial is expected to run until the end of July, her lawyer said.
Nobel laureate Suu Kyi also faces other more serious charges including intent to incite, breaching the official secrets act and charges for accepting $600,000 and 11.4 kg worth of gold from Yangon's former chief minister.
Her legal team have denied any wrong doing by Suu Kyi and her chief lawyer Khin Maung Zaw called the most recent corruption charges "absurd".
Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director, Human Rights Watch, said in a statement the charges Suu Kyi faced "are bogus, and politically motivated" and "should be dropped, resulting in her immediate and unconditional release."
The army says it took power by force because Suu Kyi's party won the election through voter fraud, an accusation rejected by the previous election commission and international monitors.
Myanmar's security forces have killed at least 862 people during their crackdown on protests since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an activist group, though the junta disputes the number.
Pro-democracy supporters took to the streets of the main city of Yangon on Monday, some chanting "revolutionary war, we participate", according to social media posts.
Some activists said they planned to stage a series of strikes and protests on Monday to coincide with the birthday of Che Guevara, a Latin American revolutionary who became an international icon after his death.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Friday that violence was intensifying and condemned the army's "outrageous" use of heavy weapons.
Bachelet said the junta had shown no willingness to implement a five-point consensus it agreed with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in April to halt violence and start dialogue with its opponents.
In a press release, Myanmar's junta-led ministry of foreign affairs rejected Bachelet's statement, questioning the accuracy and impartiality of the report.
"The report neither mentioned nor condemned the acts of sabotage and terrorism committed by the unlawful associations and terrorist groups as well as the sufferings and deaths of the security forces," it said.
The junta has branded a rival National Unity Government set up by supporters of Suu Kyi as a terrorist group and blamed it for bombings, arson and killings.
Myanmar's junta-controlled media on Monday accused an ethnic armed group of killing 25 construction workers in the east of the country after abducting a group of 47 people last month.
Reuters was unable to reach the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) for comment on the accusation. The junta spokesman did not answer calls to seek further comment.
Reuters
Mon Jun 14 2021
![Suu Kyi's trial set to start in Myanmar, junta rejects UN rights chief's statement Suu Kyi's trial set to start in Myanmar, junta rejects UN rights chief's statement](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/51620773382_AungSanSuuKyi.jpg)
Suu Kyi also faces other more serious charges including intent to incite, breaching the official secrets act and charges for accepting $600,000 and 11.4 kg worth of gold from Yangon's former chief minister. Filepic/REUTERS
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Anak lelaki risau tahap kesihatan Aung San Suu Kyi di penjara Anak lelaki risau tahap kesihatan Aung San Suu Kyi di penjara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/51694556742_AungSanSuuKyi.jpg)
Anak lelaki risau tahap kesihatan Aung San Suu Kyi di penjara
Kim Aris dakwa, ibunya dinafikan akses kepada doktor luar selepas mengalami pening dan muntah.
![Pengampunan separa Suu Kyi tidak bermakna - Anak Pengampunan separa Suu Kyi tidak bermakna - Anak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/81691016813_KimAristhesonof.jpg)
Pengampunan separa Suu Kyi tidak bermakna - Anak
Pengampunan separa oleh tentera junta Myanmar terhadap bekas pemimpin yang dipenjarakan, Aung San Suu Kyi tidak mempunyai sebarang makna.
![Thailand sambut baik pengampunan Suu Kyi Thailand sambut baik pengampunan Suu Kyi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/81672387104_AungSanSuuKyi.jpg)
Thailand sambut baik pengampunan Suu Kyi
Thailand berharap pemberian pengampunan itu akan membantu mewujudkan suasana kondusif untuk dialog politik di Myanmar.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/41680607592_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Junta Myanmar beri pengampunan negara kepada Suu Kyi Junta Myanmar beri pengampunan negara kepada Suu Kyi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/41672390543_AungSanSuuKyi.jpg)
Junta Myanmar beri pengampunan negara kepada Suu Kyi
Bekas pemimpin parti Liga Demokrasi Kebangsaan (NLD) itu dipenjarakan sejak rampasan kuasa Februari 2021.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/41680607592_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Suu Kyi sokong rundingan 'tanpa syarat' untuk hentikan krisis di Myanmar - Laporan Suu Kyi sokong rundingan 'tanpa syarat' untuk hentikan krisis di Myanmar - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/61662135864_TBMYANMAR.jpg)
Suu Kyi sokong rundingan 'tanpa syarat' untuk hentikan krisis di Myanmar - Laporan
Pemimpin Myanmar yang dipenjarakan Aung San Suu Kyi akan menyokong rundingan "tanpa prasyarat" untuk menamatkan krisis yang berlaku di negara itu.
![UK umum sekatan baharu terhadap Myanmar, sasar pembekal peralatan tentera UK umum sekatan baharu terhadap Myanmar, sasar pembekal peralatan tentera](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/41679988300_militarycheckpoint.jpg)
UK umum sekatan baharu terhadap Myanmar, sasar pembekal peralatan tentera
United Kingdom pada Isnin mengumumkan sekatan baharu terhadap Myanmar, termasuk menyasarkan pembekal peralatan ketenteraan kepada junta.
![Kerajaan tentera Myanmar nafi lakukan pembunuhan beramai-ramai Kerajaan tentera Myanmar nafi lakukan pembunuhan beramai-ramai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/71678797805_TBMYANMARVIOLENCE.jpg)
Kerajaan tentera Myanmar nafi lakukan pembunuhan beramai-ramai
Anggota kumpulan penentangan bersenjata mendakwa bahawa mayat mangsa ditemukan di pekarangan sebuah biara Buddha pada lewat Sabtu lalu.
![Pilihan Raya Myanmar di tengah-tengah keganasan, Ketua PBB suarakan kebimbangan Pilihan Raya Myanmar di tengah-tengah keganasan, Ketua PBB suarakan kebimbangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/51643254142_AntonioGuterres.jpg)
Pilihan Raya Myanmar di tengah-tengah keganasan, Ketua PBB suarakan kebimbangan
Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) Antonio Guterres pada Isnin menyuarakan kebimbangan mengenai hasrat junta Myanmar untuk mengadakan pilihan raya di tengah-tengah keganasan.