Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to house arrest in the capital Naypyidaw, more than five years after her government was ousted in a February 2021 coup. The 80-year-old Nobel laureate has been detained by the junta since the military takeover, which plunged the country into civil war and economic turmoil.
A member of her legal team confirmed the transfer on Thursday night, and the team plans to meet her on Sunday to discuss her position and bring supplies. Military-run MRTV reported that “the remaining portion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence has been commuted to be served at a designated residence,” without specifying the exact location.
Her son Kim Aris wrote on social media that his mother remained a “hostage, cut off from the world,” and called for verified proof she is alive, the ability to communicate with her, and to see her free. A photograph shown on military-controlled TV of Suu Kyi sitting on a wooden bench alongside two uniformed personnel was the first public image in years, but Kim Aris told the BBC it was taken years ago.
At the United Nations, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric welcomed the commutation as “a meaningful step towards conditions conducive to credible political process,” but stressed that the only viable solution must be based on an immediate cessation of violence and inclusive dialogue. Campaigners, including Burma Campaign UK, accused the military of a cynical PR campaign, using political prisoners as “public relations pawns” while stepping up airstrikes targeting civilians.
Suu Kyi’s sentence was reduced by one-sixth on Thursday as part of a wider prisoner amnesty marking a Buddhist holiday, bringing her term down to 18 years with more than 13 left to serve. She was originally sentenced to 33 years on politically motivated charges including treason and corruption. Since her 2021 arrest, information about her condition has been limited, with her son repeatedly warning of her deteriorating health.
