The final verdict in the case against President U Win Myint, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman Dr. Myo Aung charged under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code and other charges was scheduled for today November the 30th, but the date of the verdict has been now moved a further week till December 6th.

The show trials of the military junta are not based on legal principles and are just meant to play for time and to try to crush the spirits of the people of Myanmar. They are aimed at instilling fear and oppression and they are just a false and empty facade of justice. They are a dictators method and tactic and have no real purpose but to bide time and try to fool the world that there is any due process of law in Myanmar.

The same pattern repeats itself of trumped up charges and severe penalties. We hold no hope that the judge would find anyone innocent or show compassion or correct judgement. For instance the list of detained and heavily sentenced political prisoners in Myanmar is as long as the military dictatorship, but in the last 10 months of military rule we have seen the following examples to learn from:

• Danny Fenster, an American journalist, was sentenced to 11 years, which is the maximum allowed, and released a few days later.
• Karen State Chief Minister Nan Chin Htwe Myint was detained on February 1st, and sentenced to 75 years in jail for corruption.
• Monywa Aung Shin was detained on February 1st and released after 9 months with no charges ever laid against him, and passed away just a few days ago at the age of 76 from ill health.
• Magwe Chief Minister Dr. Aung Moe Nyo, who was detained within days of the coup, was sentenced to 2 years in jail for incitement, and is now facing a prison sentence of up to 90 years for corruption. 

The list goes on and on, but the pattern is the same. Detained without reason and then charged and tried with fabricated evidence and eventually given the harshest sentence possible. This demonstrates a lack of justice, leniency or consideration other than what you would expect from a fake show trial. This is the proof that the Military junta’s real intentions are just to hold onto power and prevent the people of Myanmar from having democracy, liberty and freedom from fear.

The international community must help to protect the human rights and democratic freedoms of the people of Myanmar and their democratically elected representatives. We continue to urge the international community to do this by: 

• Targeted sanctions against the genocidal military junta. 
• To undertake legal actions under international law to prosecute the military junta for human rights abuses and crimes against humanity. 
• To recognise and engage with the National Unity Government (NUG) as the sole legitimate government of Myanmar.

Sincerely,

H.E. Dr. Sasa
Union Minister of Ministry of International Cooperation
Spoke Person of Nation Unity Government
Former Special Envoy to United Nations