Myanmar junta jails Aung San Suu Kyi for 6 more years

A court in military-run Myanmar has sentenced leader Aung San Suu Kyi to six more years in prison after convicting her on four additional counts of corruption, according to a source familiar with the matter and local media reports.

The UN Special Envoy to Myanmar traveled to the country on Monday to address the deteriorating rights situation after the latest verdict in the series of secretive trials against the Nobel laureate takes her total jail term to 17 years. Suu Kyi, who turned 77 in June, has been found guilty of a number of crimes ranging from graft to election violations.

According to CNN, she was found guilty of misusing funds from a charity and leasing government-owned land at discounted prices.

International rights groups and world leaders have expressed concern about the deteriorating state of human rights in Myanmar and dismissed ongoing trials against Suu Kyi, calling them unfair and unjust. Elaine Pearson, acting Asia director at Human Rights WatchHRW, said the Myanmar military junta's unjust conviction and sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi is part of its methodical assault on human rights around the country. Pearson said that the military's willingness to forcibly disappear the country's high-profile civilian leader reveals the brutality of lesser-known political prisoners. UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer, traveled to Myanmar on Monday to address the deteriorating situation and immediate concerns, the UN said in a statement. The statement said that the Special Envoy's visit followed her extensive consultations with actors from across the political spectrum, civil society and communities affected by the ongoing conflict.