Myanmar coup: ex-president Win Myint testifies he refused to resign, would ‘rather die’
- The former president, who is on trial on charges of incitement, said two army officers entered his room early on February 1 and solicited his resignation
- His lawyer said he refused, and he was replaced by the vice-president who declared a state of emergency, allowing the military to take power
Win Myint was giving testimony at his trial on charges of incitement, in which the country’s ousted top leader, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, is his co-defendant. Incitement, defined as spreading false or inflammatory information that could disturb public order, is sometimes referred to as sedition and is punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment.
The trial is being held at a special court in the capital Naypyidaw, whose former mayor, Myo Aung, is the third defendant. Suu Kyi and the ex-mayor are expected to testify later.
Win Myint and Suu Kyi have been detained by the military since its February 1 takeover ousted Suu Kyi’s government, which was about to start a second five-year term of office after a landslide election victory in November last year. The military claims it acted to protect democracy because the polls were tainted by massive voter fraud, a contention not backed by independent observers.
Suu Kyi’s supporters and independent analysts say the charges against her are an attempt to discredit her and legitimise the military’s seizure of power.
