Myanmar: Ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi moved to house arrest

Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house arrest, the military's information office and state television disclosed on Thursday, after her sentence was reduced as part of a prisoner amnesty.

State television released an image of Suu Kyi dressed in a blouse and skirt, sitting on a bench behind two unidentified men in uniforms. It was not immediately clear when this image was taken.

Detained in February of 2021 when the military seized power from her elected government, Suu Kyi has not been seen publicly since. Her last official photo was from a court appearance on May 24, 2021. 

Reuters reported that her legal team planned to meet the detained former leader this weekend, citing a team member.

"The situation has shifted. I think it will no longer be just a standard prison visit, but rather a meeting where the legal team will go and discuss matters with her," the legal representative said.

Suu Kyi's legal team has not been allowed to meet her in person since December 2022.

Son calls for 'proof of life'

"If she is alive, show verified proof of life," said Kim Aris, Suu Kyi's younger son, living in London, after the news of her being moved was made public. 

"Moving her is not freeing her," 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 to see her free." 

A reduced sentence

Earlier on Thursday, authorities announced that her sentence was being reduced by one-sixth, along with that of other prisoners, to mark the Full Moon Day of Kason, honoring Buddha's birthday.

A later announcement said she was moved from the main prison in Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw to house arrest, to demonstrate the state's benevolence and goodwill." Authorities did not specify her exact location but said, "she will now serve the remainder of her sentence at a specific home instead of in prison."

This is the second recent prisoner amnesty to apply to her. Such sentence reductions are common in Myanmar for religious holidays and other important events.

Suu Kyi was originally sentenced to 33 years in prison in late 2022, which was then reduced to 27 years. Her supporters and rights groups described the charges against her as attempts to legitimize the army takeover that removed her from office. They would also prevent her from reentering politics.

Thursday's amnesty would bring her sentence down to 18 years, with more than 13 years left to serve.

UN Secretary General's spokesperson 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 more of a public relations play, instead ofactual progress.

"Moving Aung San Suu Kyi isn't about change or reform, it's about public relations designed to preserve military rule," Burma Campaign UK's director Mark Farmaner said. "No-one should be fooled."

Edited by: Alex Berry