Breaking News Today : Envoy of Myanmar civilian gov’t defiant after treason charge

2 min readMar 19, 2021

The international envoy for Myanmar’s overthrown civilian government has remained defiant after the military, which seized power in a coup on February 1, charged him with high treason.

Myanmar military-run television said the envoy, who goes only by the name Dr Sasa, was accused of encouraging a civil disobedience campaign and of calling for international sanctions and the overthrow of the generals.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from an unknown overseas location due to safety concerns, Sasa said civilians taking part in mass anti-coup protests would soon have no choice but to “defend themselves” in the face of an increasingly brutal crackdown that has seen more than 180 people killed by security forces.

“Today, I am proud to have been charged with high treason by the military junta, if this treason means that I am standing with the people of Myanmar, giving my life for their freedom, for federal democracy and for justice,” said Sasa, who was appointed as a “special envoy” to the United Nations by a committee representing Myanmar’s parliament.

‘Bloodshed and suffering’

The military said it took power because of alleged fraud in last November’s election, which returned civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) to power for a second five-year term, in a landslide. The elections commission has rejected the claims.

The generals, who detained many members of the commission alongside Aung San Suu Kyi and senior NLD officials last month, have said they will hold a new vote, but have not set a date.

Last month’s power grab brought Myanmar’s democratic transition to a halt, some 10 years after it began.

“This illegal, illegitimate regime has been committing crimes against humanity, atrocities and genocides,” Sasa said.

“Throughout our history of independence, there has been bloodsheds and suffering across the country by those who are [meant] to protect our people,” he added.

“These are the same generals who should be charged with high treason, the ones who charged me with high treason,” he said.

Sasa said while he was unable to return home because he would face a death sentence, his fellow countrymen would continue to defy the military.

Breaking News Today : Envoy of Myanmar civilian gov’t defiant after treason charge

‘Bloodshed and suffering’

Written by Henriettajsmith