Myanmar Court Sentences 2 Lawmakers of Aung San Suu Kyi's Party to 75-90 Years in Jail

After being found guilty of corruption, the two lawmakers, both members of Aung San Suu Kyi's party, were sentenced to 75 and 90 years in prison.

Than Naing, a former Kayin state planning minister, was found guilty of six counts of corruption and sentenced to 90 years in jail by a state court on Tuesday. Suu Kyi is also facing allegations of corruption and other crimes, which her supporters claim were made up to undermine her and legitimize the military's takeover of power. 

Since the military seized control in Myanmar on February 2 by executing an unprecedented coup and ousting a democratically elected civilian administration, the country has seen widespread bloodshed and dissent. The military promptly detained and imprisoned top politicians in the country, including President Aung San Suu Kyi. 

Meanwhile, a US journalist imprisoned in Myanmar has been charged with "terrorism" and "sedition," and if convicted, faces a sentence of life in jail. Danny Fenster was charged with two more counts under the Counter-Terrorism Act and Myanmar's Penal Code after being apprehended as he attempted to flee the country in May. 

A human rights group, on the other hand, claims that Myanmar's military may have perpetrated war crimes in the eastern Karenni state by detaining humanitarian workers and burning food supplies intended for conflict displaced civilians. "Blocking supplies and attacking humanitarian workers in the context of armed conflict constitute war crimes," said Ismail Wolff, Fortify Rights' Regional Director. 

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian director asked Myanmar's military commanders to provide unrestricted access to the more than three million people in desperate need of life-saving aid. 

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