MANDALAY, Myanmar (AP) – A Myanmar construction magnate with ties to military rulers claimed he had personally given over half a million dollars in cash to deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a state television broadcast aimed at the deposed to discredit civilian government.
Maung Waik’s statement could pave the way for more serious charges against Suu Kyi, held since the February 1 military takeover, as security forces increasingly use deadly force against a popular uprising demanding the restoration of democratically elected leaders.
The military has already tried to get Suu Kyi involved in corruption, claiming she got $ 600,000 plus gold bars from a political ally. She and President Win Myint have so far been accused of instigating unrest, owning walkie-talkies and violating a pandemic order restricting public gatherings.
In the latest salvo of charges, Maung Waik, who had previously been convicted of drug trafficking, told state television that he was giving cash to ministers to help his businesses. He said the money included $ 100,000 given to Suu Kyi in 2018 for a charity named after her mother, $ 150,000 in 2019 for which he had not specified a reason, $ 50,000 last February and $ 250,000 in April, again without specific goal.
Meanwhile, a court in Myanmar has issued an arrest warrant against the country’s UN ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, on charges of treason, the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.
The charges stem from his remarks to the United Nations in New York on Feb. 26, in which he condemned the coup and called for “the strongest possible action by the international community” to restore democracy in his country.
Also accused of treason was Mahn Win Khaing Than, the civic leader of Myanmar’s government in hiding, the newspaper said. Acting vice president and political party member Suu Kyi spoke for the first time since Saturday’s coup d’état when he pledged to continue to support a “revolution” to remove the military from power.
On Thursday, residents of a Yangon suburb set fire to street barricades to block riot police.
The video showed large plumes of smoke rising over the Tha Mine area in Hlaing Municipality, with another barricade burning fiercely in the middle of a residential area. A resident, who did not want to be named for fear of retaliation, told The Associated Press that protesters set them on fire after hearing that a police truck column was underway.
Building barricades – and occasionally burning them down – are now tactics established by junta opponents across the country to hinder the movement of police and military. The barriers also provide cover against the now frequent use of live ammunition against them.
At least two people were shot dead in Kalay in northwestern Myanmar on Wednesday, according to media and social media reports featuring photos of the victims. More than 200 people have reportedly been killed since the coup.
Pope Francis also called for an end to the bloodshed.
In clear reference to widespread footage of a nun in Myanmar kneeling in the street before armed security forces begging them not to shoot at protesters, Francis said: “I too kneel in the streets of Myanmar and say, may violence cease. “