THE SQUIZ
A military court in Myanmar has sentenced the country’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to 4 years in jail – subsequently reduced to 2 years – for inciting public unrest and breaching COVID protocols. Former president Win Myint received the same sentence. In recent weeks, the trials of other senior members of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy have wrapped up with the military handing out harsh sentences. The party was ousted in a military coup on 1 February, and senior members were detained. International Crisis Group’s Richard Horsey said the leaders’ sentences “were about retribution and a show of power by the military”, and critics have dismissed the process as a farce.

WHY DOES THE MILITARY SUU KYI HER SO MUCH?
She is a hugely popular figure in Myanmar and the daughter of the country’s independence hero, General Aung San. She fought for democracy and independence against the country’s military rulers, which saw her put under house arrest for 15 years until 2010. In 2015, her party won the first election in years in a landslide, but Suu Kyi was banned under Myanmar law from becoming president because her 2 sons are British citizens. Despite that, she has acted as the nation’s de facto leader. In a tragic twist under her leadership, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims were murdered by the military or forced to flee in 2017. Suu Kyi controversially chose to defend the generals against accusations of genocide, drawing criticism from international supporters. But back home, Suu Kyi’s popularity grew before the military snatched back power and executed a bloody crackdown earlier this year.

WHAT COMES NEXT
Suu Kyi, who denies any wrongdoing, could be sentenced to 100 years in detention if found guilty of 9 other charges. As for where she and Win Myint will serve their sentences, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun says it will be “at their current detention places”. It’s not clear where that is, but it’s believed to be house arrest in the capital. The military has banned Suu Kyi’s lawyers from talking to the media, and her other trials will happen over the coming months. Still to go before the court is Suu Kyi’s economic advisor, Australian Sean Turnell. He has been charged with breaking the official secrets act, and supporters say he can’t receive a fair trial.