Aung San Suu Kyi (Photo taken in January 2020 = AP)
[Bangkok = Taiki Fujikawa]Myanmar’s military announced on the 1st through state television that it had commuted the sentence of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (78). Five of the 19 convictions handed down by the military-controlled courts that took full power in the military coup are eligible for amnesty. The sentence was reduced by six years to a total of 27 years, but for the elderly Suu Kyi it is equivalent to life in prison.
By commuting sentences, the military appears to want to appeal to countries such as China and Thailand, which are said to be open to dialogue with the military government, and to alleviate international pressure. According to local information, the military announced amnesty for 7,896 prisoners, including 125 foreigners, from a humanitarian standpoint. All death row inmates were commuted to life imprisonment.
Suu Kyi was detained immediately after the February 2021 coup and was sentenced to 33 years in prison for 19 crimes, including anti-corruption law violations.
Some media outlets reported that Suu Kyi was transferred from prison in Naypyidaw, the capital, to a government facility on July 24. A food parcel addressed to Ms Suu Kyi was sent to the prison a few days ago, and it was unclear if it was actually transferred, according to sources familiar with the matter.
On the 1st, the military held a ceremony to mark the completion of the marble giant Buddha erected in the capital on the initiative of General Min Aung Hlaing.
The Great Marble Buddha in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar (AP)
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2023-08-01 12:16:44
