Myanmar state media (MRTV) on Thursday announced that former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest after more than five years in prison following the coup that ousted her from power.
On the same day, to commemorate the Buddhist holiday Full Moon Day of Kason, MRTV announced an amnesty for 1,519 prisoners, including 11 foreigners, who were granted deportation following their amnesty. Those remaining in prison, including Aun San Suu Kyi, had their sentences reduced by a sixth. As a result, Kyi’s sentence was reduced from 22 to 18 years.
Ahead of her transfer to house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi’s son, Kim Aris, spoke to the DVB Multimedia Association and stated that “there were rumors that she would be placed under house arrest or even possibly released, but none of that seems to have happened.” On the same day as his statement, MRTV announced Kyi’s transfer.
Earlier this month, 4,514 prisoners were arrested to mark the Buddhist New Year on April 17 Amnesty grantedincluding reportedly 179 foreign prisoners who were also deported. The additional releases come after more than 10,000 people were released from prison in March. Most of those released in March were serving sentences for terrorism, including organizing or participating in a terrorist organization.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners keeps statistics on people detained in Myanmar since the 2021 coup. They reported this last Friday 22,047 People remain in detention due to their activities during and after the “Spring Revolution,” the first wave of protests against the coup in early 2021. It is unclear how many of those allegedly released by the government are detained because of their involvement in political activities since the 2021 coup.
Five years ago, Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown from power in a coup; She has been imprisoned ever since. Five years after the coup, it is still unclear which actor has the legal right to govern the country. An estimated 89,000 people have lost their lives and 3.4 million have been displaced since the coup in February 2021.
Myanmar is currently being investigated by the International Court of Justice over allegations of genocide against the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority.
