Aung San Suu Kyi trial continues amid spike in infections and armed clashes

​While the trial against the democracy leader continues in the capital, cases of Covid-19 and fighting between the army and anti-regime militants are on the rise in the rest of the country. Yesterday, 2,969 new cases were recorded, while in Sagaing, residents reported 25 casualties in clashes.

Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi continues in the capital Naypyidaw, while in the rest of Myanmar Covid-19 cases and clashes between the army and anti-regime forces are increasing. 

According to Min Min Soe, a lawyer for the former National League for Democracy leader, Suu Kyi appeared "fresh and healthy" at yesterday's hearing. The Nobel laureate's lawyers questioned prosecution witnesses who claimed that Suu Kyi had ignored restrictions against the coronavirus during the 2020 elections. Suu Kyi also defended herself against charges of illegally importing walkie talkies. The other charges include accepting payments in gold and violating a secrecy law, for which the former democratic leader faces more than 10 years in prison if found guilty.

Meanwhile, 2,969 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded, the highest rate of infection in months, with more than a fifth of the swabs taken testing positive. The military junta yesterday banned eating inside restaurants, but more restrictions are expected in the coming days. 

Other areas of the country continued to be in chaos: in the central region of Sagaing, the Burmese army killed at least 25 people, including anti-regime fighters and civilians, local residents reported. Military trucks reportedly entered the area and opened fire. State media, however, offered a different account of the clash, saying the military were patrolling the area when they were ambushed. Soldiers reportedly fought off a group of "armed terrorists" and found "four mortars" and other weapons, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, which did not provide a death toll.

• myanmar
• yangon
• naypyidaw
• aung san suu kyi
• trial
• coup d'etat
• military junta
• clashes
• covid-19
• coronavirus