Myanmar Junta Transfers Aung San Suu Kyi to House Arrest After Three Years in Detention

Myanmar's state media has reported that Aung San Suu Kyi, the nation's former leader, has been transferred to house arrest. The 80-year-old Nobel laureate had been held in military detention, believed to be in a prison in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, since the February 2021 military coup.

Min Aung Hlaing, the military leader who orchestrated the coup, issued a statement indicating he had "commuted her remaining sentence to be served at the designated residence."

Aung San Suu Kyi's son, Kim Aris, voiced considerable doubt regarding the announcement. He stated he lacked independent verification of his mother's well-being or whereabouts, noting that a broadcasted image of her with uniformed personnel was from 2022 and therefore "meaningless" as proof of her current status. He emphasised that he would not accept the claim without direct communication or independent confirmation.

Before this announcement, her health and living conditions remained unknown, with her legal team confirming no direct notification of the house arrest. Allies maintain that the charges against her, which initially resulted in a 33-year sentence following the coup, were politically motivated, although this sentence has been reduced several times.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who came to power in 2015 after democratic reforms, previously endured over 15 years under house arrest during earlier periods of military rule. Her international reputation was significantly altered following her decision to defend Myanmar against genocide charges at the International Court of Justice concerning the military's actions against the Rohingya Muslim population in 2017.