Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been released from prison under house arrest, the military information office and state television revealed on Thursday, after her sentence was commuted as part of a prisoner amnesty.
State television released a photo of Suu Kyi, dressed in a blouse and skirt, sitting on a bench behind two unidentified men in uniform. It was not immediately clear when the image was taken.
Suu Kyi was detained in February 2021 when the military seized power from her elected government, and has not been seen in public since. The last official photo was of his court appearance on May 24, 2021.
His legal team planned to meet the detained former leader later this week, Reuters reported, citing a team member.
The legal representative said, “The situation has changed. I think it will no longer just be a standard prison visit, but a meeting where the legal team will go and discuss the cases with him.”
Suu Kyi’s legal team has not been allowed to meet her in person since December 2022.
Son asked for ‘proof of life’
Suu Kyi’s younger son Kim Aris, who lives in London, said after the news of her transfer became public, “If she is alive, show verified proof of being alive.”
“Moving him is not freeing him,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook. “My request is simple: verified information that my mother is alive, the ability to communicate with her, and the ability to see her freely.”
a short sentence
Earlier on Thursday, officials announced that his sentence, along with other prisoners, was being reduced by one-sixth to mark Kasson’s full moon day, honoring the Buddha’s birthday.
A later announcement said she had been moved from the main prison in Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw to house arrest to demonstrate the state’s benevolence and goodwill.” Authorities did not reveal her exact location, but said, “She will now serve the remainder of her sentence in an elite home rather than a prison.”
This is the second recent prisoner amnesty to be applied to him. Such sentences are common on religious holidays and other important events in Myanmar.
Suu Kyi was originally sentenced to 33 years in prison in late 2022, which was later reduced to 27 years. His supporters and rights groups described the charges against him as attempts to legitimize the military takeover that removed him from office. They will also prevent him from re-entering politics.
Thursday’s pardon will reduce his sentence to 18 years, with more than 13 years remaining to serve.
A spokesman for the UN Secretary-General said Antonio Guterres considered Suu Kyi’s transfer a “meaningful step” towards “credible political progress”.
Meanwhile, human rights group Burma Campaign UK said the transfer was a public relations gimmick rather than real progress.
Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said, “Removing Aung San Suu Kyi is not about change or reform, it is about public relations designed to maintain the military regime.” “No one should be fooled.”
Edited by: Alex Berry