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Aung San Suu Kyi, Australian economic adviser jailed in Myanmar
Al JazeeraDec 23, 2022
The Facts
A court in military-ruled Myanmar has handed a former politician for the deposed National League for Democracy (NLD) a 148-year prison sentence, meaning alongside previous convictions, Win Mint Hlaing will hypothetically spend a total of 173 years in prison.
The sentence is believed to be the longest given to any member of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi's former government and party after the military takeover in February 2021. Suu Kyi, arrested on the day of the coup, has already been sentenced to 26 years for several convictions.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The military regime has only continued to crack down on those who oppose it, attacking civilians and restricting fundamental human rights from anyone who attempts to challenge their illegitimate authority. Hlaing and Suu Kyi are among many who've been detained not by an objective rule of law but to fulfil this effort. Change must occur, and Myanmar must be freed from the violent military government.
Establishment-critical narrative
Extremist NLD members are guilty of inciting civil unrest alongside terrorist organizations in an attempt to undermine the State Administration Council, which is temporarily in charge of the county according to the 2008 Constitution. Myanmar and the international community must collectively fight such terrorism, which is unacceptable in any society.
