Suu Kyi received three years’ incarceration following conviction on the same charges, to be added to the 20 years she was already serving for a range of other bogus claims. If the government thought that this softly, softly approach would lead to the release of Turnell, they will be sorely disappointed. The convictions of Turnell, Suu Kyi and their colleagues, like the execution of four democracy activists in July, therefore represent not a military junta, confident and in control, but one desperately trying, and failing, to shore up its own legitimacy. If the government thought that this softly, softly approach would lead to the release of Turnell, they will be sorely disappointed. According to reports, Turnell and Suu Kyi are being relatively looked after, unlike the thousands of other political prisoners in Myanmar.

Source: The Guardian September 29, 2022 10:00 UTC