Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday (June 7) that lawyers defending political detainees in Myanmar military junta-run courts are facing harassment and are even being jailed by military authorities. HRW warned that intimidation was forcing many lawyers to stop taking cases.

The military junta toppled the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi more than two years ago. The country has been in turmoil ever since. The military junta has arrested tens of thousands in a crackdown on dissent within the country.

Rights groups allege that the authorities have used courts to throttle opponents. These include Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's former president win Myint. Both of them were jailed for lengthy terms by closed-door courts.

HRW said in a report that defence lawyers, who are defending political detainees, are working in "special courts" set up by the military junta. These lawyers, says the report, are facing harassment and are even being threatened by the authorities. The report is based on interviews with 19 lawyers.

"In the courtroom, I now have to worry about not getting myself detained rather than speaking the truth," one Yangon-based lawyer told the watchdog.

"Everyone at the court knows who I am... The junta can detain me at any time, and they can and will make up any reasons they want."

<h2>Lawyer given 15-year jail term</h2>

HRW mentioned the case of attorney Ywet Nu Aung. She was reportedly detained as she left a court hearing. She was representing a former chief minister and member of Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).

It was alleged that Ywet Nu Aung was helping to provide money to anti-junta militias. She was later sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labour.

Human Rights Watch said that lawyers are regularly barred from talking with clients in private before hearings. Moreover, in an overcrowded legal system, some lawyers had taken on hundreds of cases.

"Sometimes cross-examination doesn't even happen," another lawyer told HRW.

"It's near impossible to challenge what they (the prosecution) present as evidence, and we never get to have a defendant released on bail." 
 
All 19 lawyers told HRW they had experienced "intimidation and surveillance by junta authorities".&nbsp;

"Few have been willing to put themselves at risk of further surveillance and intimidation and many have stopped taking cases," HRW said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/united-nations-special-envoy-for-myanmar-to-resign-says-un-chief-spokesman-598932">United Nations special envoy for Myanmar to resign, says UN chief spokesman&nbsp;</a> 
 
More than 23,000 people have been arrested by the junta since the coup in February 2021, according to a local monitoring group.&nbsp;

Last year, a junta-controlled court ordered the execution of a former NLD lawmaker along with a prominent activist over allegations of "terrorism" — Myanmar's first use of capital punishment in decades.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday (June 7) that lawyers defending political detainees in Myanmar military junta-run courts are facing harassment and are even being jailed by military authorities.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday (June 7) that lawyers defending political detainees in Myanmar military junta-run courts are facing harassment and are even being jailed by military authorities. HRW warned that intimidation was forcing many lawyers to stop taking cases. The military junta toppled the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi more than two years ago. The country has been in turmoil ever since. The military junta has arrested tens of thousands in a crackdown on dissent within the country. Rights groups allege that the authorities have used courts to throttle opponents. These include Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's former president win Myint. Both of them were jailed for lengthy terms by closed-door courts. HRW said in a report that defence lawyers, who are defending political detainees, are working in "special courts" set up by the military junta. These lawyers, says the report, are facing harassment and are even being threatened by the authorities. The report is based on interviews with 19 lawyers. "In the courtroom, I now have to worry about not getting myself detained rather than speaking the truth," one Yangon-based lawyer told the watchdog. "Everyone at the court knows who I am... The junta can detain me at any time, and they can and will make up any reasons they want." Lawyer given 15-year jail term HRW mentioned the case of attorney Ywet Nu Aung. She was reportedly detained as she left a court hearing. She was representing a former chief minister and member of Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). It was alleged that Ywet Nu Aung was helping to provide money to anti-junta militias. She was later sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labour. Human Rights Watch said that lawyers are regularly barred from talking with clients in private before hearings. Moreover, in an overcrowded legal system, some lawyers had taken on hundreds of cases. "Sometimes cross-examination doesn't even happen," another lawyer told HRW. "It's near impossible to challenge what they (the prosecution) present as evidence, and we never get to have a defendant released on bail." All 19 lawyers told HRW they had experienced "intimidation and surveillance by junta authorities". "Few have been willing to put themselves at risk of further surveillance and intimidation and many have stopped taking cases," HRW said. Also Read | United Nations special envoy for Myanmar to resign, says UN chief spokesman More than 23,000 people have been arrested by the junta since the coup in February 2021, according to a local monitoring group. Last year, a junta-controlled court ordered the execution of a former NLD lawmaker along with a prominent activist over allegations of "terrorism" — Myanmar's first use of capital punishment in decades. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Myanmar junta intimidating lawyers who represent opponents: Report

US will soon impose more sanctions on Myanmar&nbsp;to thwart all efforts by the junta in the Southeast Asian nation to generate revenue and procure arms. A senior State Department official said Wednesday that further sanctions will be announced in coming days, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

While speaking with media personnel in Jakarta, US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said, "We're committed to ratchet up the pressure on the junta and make it harder for them to generate revenue, which is fuelling its war machine."

Chollet further said, "Myanmar is on the path to becoming a failed state in the heart of Southeast Asia."

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The humanitarian crises in Burma have only gotten worse since the military overthrew the government on February 1, 2021.&nbsp;According to reports, there have been close to 3,000 fatalities, 17,000 arrests, and over&nbsp;1.5 million people got displaced.

Chollet added that Russia must stop its arms supply to Myanmar's junta. "One way that can happen is if the junta is no longer able to import arms and we would make a very large step in that direction if Russia were to stop supplying arms to Myanmar," he said.

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The United States has been working to strengthen its relationship with ASEAN and its members over the situation in Burma. Chollet urged the grouping to exclude Myanmar's political representation from all of its meetings.&nbsp;

United States says that it will continue to support the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar to establish peace and multi-party administration.&nbsp;United States and other Western nations have already issued a number of sanctions that target the military government's agencies, enterprises, and people. According to Chollet, the US has sanctioned 80 people and more than 30 organisations in Myanmar so far.

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"The regime needs to fully understand that as long as it is continuing to prosecute such a brutal a campaign against their own people that they will suffer the consequences for that -- and that will include further isolation in the international community." 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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US will soon impose more sanctions on Myanmar to thwart all efforts by the junta in the Southeast Asian nation to generate revenue and procure arms. A senior State Department official said Wednesday that further sanctions will be announced in coming days, reported Reuters.

US will soon impose more sanctions on Myanmar to thwart all efforts by the junta in the Southeast Asian nation to generate revenue and procure arms. A senior State Department official said Wednesday that further sanctions will be announced in coming days, reported Reuters. While speaking with media personnel in Jakarta, US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said, "We're committed to ratchet up the pressure on the junta and make it harder for them to generate revenue, which is fuelling its war machine." Chollet further said, "Myanmar is on the path to becoming a failed state in the heart of Southeast Asia." Also Read | Russia, China reach agreement on second Power of Siberia gas pipeline The humanitarian crises in Burma have only gotten worse since the military overthrew the government on February 1, 2021. According to reports, there have been close to 3,000 fatalities, 17,000 arrests, and over 1.5 million people got displaced. Chollet added that Russia must stop its arms supply to Myanmar's junta. "One way that can happen is if the junta is no longer able to import arms and we would make a very large step in that direction if Russia were to stop supplying arms to Myanmar," he said. Also Read | China approves its first mRNA vaccine, months after easing Covid restrictions The United States has been working to strengthen its relationship with ASEAN and its members over the situation in Burma. Chollet urged the grouping to exclude Myanmar's political representation from all of its meetings. United States says that it will continue to support the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar to establish peace and multi-party administration. United States and other Western nations have already issued a number of sanctions that target the military government's agencies, enterprises, and people. According to Chollet, the US has sanctioned 80 people and more than 30 organisations in Myanmar so far. Watch | 'No winners in a nuclear war': Russia-China joint statement "The regime needs to fully understand that as long as it is continuing to prosecute such a brutal a campaign against their own people that they will suffer the consequences for that -- and that will include further isolation in the international community." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US to impose more sanctions on Myanmar, says Russia must stop arms supply to junta

Myanmar's junta leader has not been invited to an ASEAN regional summit happening next month, host nation Cambodia announced on Wednesday.&nbsp;

In what can be seen as a fresh diplomatic snub, the junta has been invited to "nominate a non-political representative for the upcoming ASEAN Summits". This means that junta chief Min Aung Hlaing won't be allowed to attend the summit.

Since the military junta seized power last year, ASEAN has led diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Myanmar. However, as per AFP, there has been little progress on the "five-point consensus" agreed on with the junta.

Watch |&nbsp;Myanmar: Bullet fired from ground pierces through fuselage of an aircraft, one injured

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As a result, the group, its leader and ministers have in the recent past&nbsp;been shut out of meetings of the 10-member regional bloc ASEAN. In February and August, junta's top diplomat was barred from attending the bloc's foreign minister gatherings in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The five-point consensus calls for an immediate end to the violence in Myanmar. It also urges for a dialogue between the military and the anti-coup movement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/myanmars-suu-kyi-and-australian-economist-sentenced-to-three-years-in-jail-520781">Myanmar's Suu Kyi and Australian economist sentenced to three years in jail</a>

ASEAN's latest snub comes as the United States attempts to pressure the junta through United Nations after an air strike in September killed 11 schoolchildren.

Previously, the August meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers had ended with a rare condemnation of the junta's actions. The ministers had remarked that they were "deeply disappointed by the limited progress in and lack of commitment of the Naypyidaw authorities to the timely and complete implementation of the five-point consensus".

(With inputs from agencies)

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Myanmar's junta leader has not been invited to an ASEAN regional summit happening next month, host nation Cambodia announced on Wednesday. In what can be seen as a fresh diplomatic snub, the junta has been invited to "nominate a non-political representative for the upcoming ASEAN Summits".

Myanmar's junta leader has not been invited to an ASEAN regional summit happening next month, host nation Cambodia announced on Wednesday. In what can be seen as a fresh diplomatic snub, the junta has been invited to "nominate a non-political representative for the upcoming ASEAN Summits". This means that junta chief Min Aung Hlaing won't be allowed to attend the summit. Since the military junta seized power last year, ASEAN has led diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Myanmar. However, as per AFP, there has been little progress on the "five-point consensus" agreed on with the junta. Watch | Myanmar: Bullet fired from ground pierces through fuselage of an aircraft, one injured As a result, the group, its leader and ministers have in the recent past been shut out of meetings of the 10-member regional bloc ASEAN. In February and August, junta's top diplomat was barred from attending the bloc's foreign minister gatherings in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The five-point consensus calls for an immediate end to the violence in Myanmar. It also urges for a dialogue between the military and the anti-coup movement. Also read | Myanmar's Suu Kyi and Australian economist sentenced to three years in jail ASEAN's latest snub comes as the United States attempts to pressure the junta through United Nations after an air strike in September killed 11 schoolchildren. Previously, the August meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers had ended with a rare condemnation of the junta's actions. The ministers had remarked that they were "deeply disappointed by the limited progress in and lack of commitment of the Naypyidaw authorities to the timely and complete implementation of the five-point consensus". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Myanmar junta's leader won't be allowed to attend upcoming ASEAN summit: Cambodia

Myanmar's pro-democracy activists sharply criticized an agreement between the country's junta chief and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to end a violent post-coup crisis and vowed to continue protesting.

Myanmar activists slam ASEAN-junta consensus, vow to continue protests

Southeast Asian leaders announced a consensus on ending the Myanmar crisis. The ASEAN leaders have agreed on a plan with Myanmar's junta chief on Saturday to end the crisis in the violence-hit nation.

ASEAN leaders reach consensus on ending violence in Myanmar

Myanmar's military junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, arrived in Jakarta on Saturday for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on the crisis in his country.

Myanmar's military junta leader arrives in Jakarta for ASEAN summit