By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from detention to house arrest, according to state media reports.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner has remained in detention since the 2021 military coup that removed her from power. She is believed to have been held in a military prison in Nay Pyi Taw, the country’s capital.
According to a statement from military chief Min Aung Hlaing, her remaining prison term has been changed so that she will now serve it at a specified residence instead of in custody.
Aung San Suu Kyi rose to leadership in 2015 after the country’s military rulers introduced political reforms. Before that, she spent many years under military rule as a leading pro-democracy figure and had already endured over 15 years of house confinement.
State media also showed an image of her seated alongside two uniformed officials.
Her son, Kim Aris, expressed doubt about the announcement, saying he had no proof that his mother is still alive. He also said the circulated photo held little value since it was taken in 2022.
He told the BBC that he hopes the information is accurate but has not seen any reliable confirmation of her transfer or current condition.
He added that until he is able to communicate with her directly or an independent source verifies her situation, he cannot accept the reports as true.
Before this announcement, there was no clear information about her health or living conditions. Her son also said in December that he had not received any contact from her for years.
Her legal representatives told Reuters that they were not officially informed about any change to her detention status.
Since the military removed her government in 2021, very little has been seen or heard from Aung San Suu Kyi.
Her legal team has not met her for over three years, and her family has been without contact for more than two years.
The last known image of her before Thursday was from a court appearance in May 2021, when she began facing a series of military-led trials on charges widely considered to be politically motivated.
Her prison sentence, originally set at 33 years, has been reduced multiple times over the years.
Her sudden appearance in state media has led to speculation that the authorities may be preparing for further changes in her situation, including the possibility of partial or full release.
Observers believe the military leader Min Aung Hlaing is seeking to reduce his government’s international isolation and appears more confident following recent battlefield gains against armed resistance groups.
Earlier this year, the military administration also conducted an election that was presented as a return to civilian rule, though power effectively remained with military leaders.
According to Sean Turnell, former economic adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi, the current military government is actively trying to improve its global image.
He said the authorities are trying to present themselves as a legitimate ruling body, and that the announcement about her relocation fits into this broader strategy.
Turnell expressed hope that the reports are true but said he still has significant doubts.
The Australian economist himself was detained for over a year after the 2021 coup along with members of the ousted government.
He recalled being held in the same facility where Aung San Suu Kyi was detained, describing the conditions as extremely harsh, with poor food, limited medical care, and exposed living spaces.
He added that such conditions would be especially difficult for someone of her age, now 80.
During her earlier years of confinement, Aung San Suu Kyi gained widespread support for her peaceful resistance and became an international symbol of democracy, often addressing supporters from her home. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.
However, her reputation suffered later after she defended Myanmar against genocide accusations at the International Court of Justice related to the military’s actions against the Rohingya community in 2017.
Despite years of imprisonment and absence from public life, her popularity within Myanmar reportedly remains very strong.
According to Turnell, she continues to have a deep emotional connection with many people in the country, who are now hopeful about her possible release.