NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Myanmar’s military junta has recently transferred Aung San Suu Kyi, the imprisoned democracy icon and Nobel laureate, from prison to house arrest, according to a source speaking to news agency on Wednesday.
Suu Kyi, now 78 years old, is currently serving a 27-year sentence for various criminal convictions, including corruption and violations related to Covid-19 regulations.
Since her detention by the military during the 2021 coup that seized power, Suu Kyi has been kept out of public view and has reportedly faced health issues.
A military source, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Suu Kyi and former President Win Myint have been moved from prison to house arrest.
In a separate development on Wednesday, the junta announced an amnesty as part of the country’s new year festival, with 3,300 prisoners set to be released.
It remains unclear whether Suu Kyi’s transfer to house arrest is temporary or if it signals an official reduction in her sentence.
Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun cited hot weather conditions as a reason for protecting vulnerable detainees, including Suu Kyi and Win Myint.
During her extended trial, Suu Kyi reportedly experienced dizzy spells, vomiting, and difficulty eating due to a tooth infection.
Her son, Kim Aris, revealed in February that she was confined in a specially constructed compound in Naypyidaw, the military-built capital, which lacked air conditioning and suffered from leaking concrete cells during the monsoon season.
Suu Kyi previously endured 15 years under house arrest at her family’s lakeside mansion in Yangon after rising to prominence during large protests against the junta in 1988.
The recent prisoner amnesty includes 13 Indonesians and 15 Sri Lankans who will be deported, according to the junta.
Remaining prisoners will see their sentences reduced by one-sixth, with exceptions for serious offenses such as murder, terrorism, and drug charges.
Myanmar’s military seized power in a swift coup in February 2021, ending a decade-long experiment with democracy and triggering widespread public opposition.
The military’s heavy-handed response to protests led to a violent conflict that has claimed the lives of over 4,800 civilians.
Now, the military faces challenges in maintaining control amid resistance from anti-junta civilian fighters and established ethnic minority armed groups.
