Military-Led Myanmar Transfers Suu Kyi From Jail To House Arrest

NEW YORK, NY -Myanmar’s military-led government has moved former state counsellor and civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from prison to house arrest, commuting the remainder of her sentence in a decision officials described as a gesture of goodwill.

Myanmar’s Ministry of Information said on April 30 that President Min Aung Hlaing, the military chief who led the 2021 coup and now heads the government as president, “has decided to commute the remaining sentences of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently serving her sentence at Nay Pyi Taw Prison, to be served under house arrest”.

Aung San Suu Kyi was the state counsellor and de facto leader of Myanmar’s democratically elected civilian government that was overthrown by the military in February 2021.

Min Aung Hlaing, the senior general who led the coup and headed the ruling junta, was elected president by a military-backed parliament on April 3 following elections held between December and January.

The elections were conducted without the participation of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), which had been banned after the coup. Following his election, Min Aung Hlaing had signaled possible amnesties as part of efforts to promote what the military describes as social reconciliation, amid continued international isolation of the regime.

Myanmar has faced mounting economic strain and ongoing conflict with multiple ethnic armed groups since the coup. The Ministry said the decision to move the 80-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi, who is reported to be in frail health, to house detention was taken “from a perspective of the state’s benevolence and goodwill”.

It added that the move coincided with the Full Moon Day of Kasone, a significant Buddhist observance in Myanmar, “as well as in recognition of her humanitarian compassion”.

Under military rule, Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted on multiple charges ranging from possession of unlicensed communication devices to corruption and sedition, and initially sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison.

Her sentence was later reduced to 22 years and six months, and on April 30 the authorities said it would be further reduced, with the remaining term to be served under house arrest.

Earlier, U Win Myint, Myanmar’s former president who served under the ousted civilian government, was released from detention on April 17 along with more than 4,300 prisoners in a mass amnesty marking the country’s New Year.

The National Unity Government, a shadow administration formed by ousted lawmakers and operating in exile, said it “expresses its sincere satisfaction” with the release of “certain political prisoners — including our President, U Win Myint — who were unjustly arrested and detained by the military dictatorship”.

Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of independence leader Aung San, has spent years in detention or under house arrest over decades of political turmoil in Myanmar and remains a central figure in the country’s pro-democracy movement. (IANS)