Lawyers seek access to Aung San Suu Kyi, after authorities announce she is under house arrest.
The announcement yesterday evening after initial reports of a reduction in her sentence, comes immediately after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Yangon. There is no indication of her whereabouts. Her lawyers – who have been unable to meet her for years – have asked to speak to her directly. Her son Kim Aris said: “The image released dates back to 2022; until we can communicate with her, I won’t believe a word of it.”
Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Aung San Suu Kyi’s legal team has requested a meeting with the detained former leader, following her transfer to house arrest in the capital Naypyidaw by the military-backed government, announced last night by former general and current President of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing.
The news came after it was initially announced yesterday that she had been granted a second reduction in her sentence as part of a new amnesty, which would leave the 80-year-old leader of the National League for Democracy with 18 years of her sentence still to serve.
The Nobel laureate has been detained since the coup in February 2021, when the army overthrew her civilian government, triggering a bloody civil war that has engulfed much of the country. For a long time, her whereabouts remained uncertain: in recent days, proof that she was still alive had even been requested, as her family and lawyers have been unable to meet her for years.
According to a member of her legal team, Suu Kyi is still in Naypyidaw and was transferred to house arrest last night. State media announced the transfer without specifying where she will serve her house arrest. They also released a photograph of her sitting alongside two uniformed officers.
However, her son Kim told the BBC that this is a previously known image, taken in 2022. “I hope the news of her transfer to house arrest is true, but I have not yet seen any concrete evidence to prove it,” he added. “Until I am allowed to communicate with her, or someone can independently verify her condition and whereabouts, I will not believe anything.”
Her lawyers intend to meet Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday 3 May to discuss her legal situation and provide her with essential supplies such as food and medicine. Previously, when they were unable to see her, these supplies were left at a police station. Now, the transfer to house arrest could allow for direct contact and planning of the next steps.
Following the coup, Suu Kyi has been subjected to a long series of secret trials on charges including corruption, electoral fraud and breaches of state secrets laws. All politically motivated charges designed to exclude her from public life.
Min Aung Hlaing has faced international pressure to release political prisoners, including from ASEAN, which had excluded Myanmar from its summits following the coup. It should be noted that last night’s announcement comes following the visit to Myanmar in recent days by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Beijing has pushed strongly for the holding of the disputed elections which, at the start of the year, gave an aura of ‘normality’ to the generals’ regime and led in recent weeks to the appointment of Min Aung Hlaing as president.
When questioned yesterday by AFP about Wang Yi’s visit and the fate of the Burmese opposition leader, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian replied significantly during the usual daily press conference: “Aung San Suu Kyi is an old friend of China. Her situation has always been on our minds.
China and Myanmar are friendly neighbours. China supports Myanmar in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and supports the various parties in Myanmar in achieving broader, more solid and sustainable peace and reconciliation.”
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04/01/2022 11:21
17/03/2021 13:08
