Rebels kill 20 Myanmar officers, former leader Aung San Suu Kyi appears in court
According to the People’s Defense Force anti-coup movement, at least 20 Myanmar security forces have been killed in a confrontation with rebels.
Former state adviser, Aung San Suu Kyi, also appeared for the first time since the coup in February, when the bank was detained by the military junta.
The police station in Shan state in eastern Myanmar has reportedly been burned down. Photos show smoke coming from the station. Local media say 4 members of the security forces were held by rebel fighters and photos show what appear to be the officers blindfolded with surgical masks and their hands behind their backs.
At least 815 civilians have been killed and more than 4,000 detained since the military takeover. Many ethnic armies occupying Myanmar’s border regions have taken a stand against the coup, which has led to fierce clashes with the junta and rebel fighters. Some, like the People’s Defense Force, are civilians who fight back with handcrafted weapons.
The junta claims they took power over fraudulent elections. Aung San Suu Kyi had won the election by a large majority. The 75-year-old is now facing a number of allegations of possession of illegal walkie-talkies to violating a state secrets law.
Aung “wished people good health” and her lawyer announced a statement from Aung about her Nation League Democracy party.
“Our party grew out of the people, so it will exist as long as people support it.”
Catch up on more stories here
Follow us on Facebook here
