MANDALAY, Myanmar (AP) – A Myanmar construction tycoon with ties to military officials said he personally gave over half a million dollars in cash to deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a state television broadcast aimed at discrediting the government. deposed civilian.
Maung Waik’s statement could pave the way for more serious accusations against Suu Kyi, who has been in detention since the February 1 military takeover, as security forces increasingly use lethal force against a popular uprising that demands the restoration of elected leaders. democratically.
The military has tried to implicate Suu Kyi in corruption, claiming that she received $ 600,000 plus gold bars from a political ally. She and President Win Myint have so far been accused of inciting unrest, possession of walkie-talkies and violating a pandemic order that limits public meetings.
In the latest series of charges, Maung Waik, who had previously been convicted of drug trafficking, told state television that he gave money to government ministers to help his business. He said the money included $ 100,000 given to Suu Kyi in 2018 for a charity named after his mother, $ 150,000 in 2019 for which he did not specify a reason, $ 50,000 last February and $ 250,000 in April, again for no specified purpose.
The country’s Anticorruption Commission is investigating the allegations and has pledged to take action against Suu Kyi under the Anticorruption Act, the state newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a court has issued an arrest warrant for the country’s UN ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, on charges of treason, the newspaper reported.
The accusation stems from his statements on February 26 at UN headquarters, 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 civilian leader of the Myanmar government in hiding, the newspaper said. The acting vice president and member of Suu Kyi’s political party on Saturday promised to continue supporting a “revolution” to remove the military from power.
On Thursday, residents of a suburb of Yangon set fire to street barricades to block riot troops.
The video showed large clouds of smoke rising over the Tha mine area in Hlaing County, with another barricade burning fiercely in the middle of a residential area. One resident, who declined to be identified for fear of retaliation, told the Associated Press that protesters set them on fire after hearing that a column of police trucks was on the way.
Building barricades – and occasionally burning them – are now tactics established by opponents of the junta across the country to prevent police and army movement. The barriers also provide some protection against the now frequent use of live ammunition against them.
On Wednesday, at least two people were shot dead in Kalay, in northwestern Myanmar, according to media and social media posts that included photos of the victims. More than 200 people have been killed by security forces since the coup, according to reliable records.
On Thursday, the head of the junta attended an online meeting of military leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.
It was a rare appearance by General Min Aung Hlaing before an international meeting since the coup.
The ASEAN president earlier this month called for an end to the violence in Myanmar and negotiations to try to reach a peaceful settlement.