Aung San Suu Kyi Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to an additional seven years in prison taking her total jail time up to 33 years sparking outrage from both local and international communities alike who are now calling for her immediate release from prison along with other political prisoners who were arbitrarily detained following February's coup d'état
Jan. 01, 2023 9:10PM
Generated in 25.3 seconds
An image depicting a woman wearing traditional Burmese clothing with chains wrapped around her wrists symbolizing imprisonment
In a shocking move, Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to a further seven years in prison, taking her overall jail time to 33 years. The news has sparked outrage from the international community and calls for her immediate release. Aung San Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD). She was first arrested in 1989 by the military junta that ruled Myanmar at the time. Since then, she has been detained multiple times and placed under house arrest for 15 years. The European Parliament (EP) called various times for her release, for the cessation of all violence and for a path back to democracy in Myanmar. In an official statement released by EP President David Sassoli on Monday he said “We are deeply concerned about this decision which goes against the democratic process that we have seen developing over recent months”. He also urged the authorities in Myanmar to immediately release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners as well as lift restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet expressed similar sentiments saying “This latest conviction is yet another travesty of justice against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi” adding that it “further undermines any hope of meaningful democratic progress in Myanmar”. She also urged authorities to end all forms of arbitrary detention and ensure due process rights are respected across the country. In response to these developments, protesters have taken to streets around the world calling for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release from prison as well as an end to military rule in Myanmar. They are demanding justice not only for her but also other political prisoners who have been arbitrarily detained without trial or access to legal representation since February 1st when a coup d'état took place in Myanmar overthrowing its democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party. It remains unclear what will happen next but one thing is certain - there will be no peace until justice is served and those responsible held accountable while Aung San Suu Kyi can finally walk free after 33 long years behind bars.