Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s ousted civil leader, has been transferred from house arrest to solitary confinement.
Myanmar’s military ousted Ms. Suu Kyi’s elected administration in February 2021, imprisoning the 77-year-old Nobel winner. After being detained at an unknown location for the past year, she was moved to a jail in the nation’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
Ms. Suu Kyi, who has already received an 11-year prison term, faces numerous accusations related to her political role in the country and the elections she won. However, she has denied all charges, which have been widely denounced as being politically motivated.
The Novel laureate, who is still considered a symbol of democracy in the nation, is reportedly set to attend trial proceedings from a unique court inside prison.
Informed sources told BBC that she was transferred on Wednesday to separate, purpose-built accommodation inside the jail, where she would be even more isolated. Deposed president Win Myint will also be under a similar solitary in-prison confinement.
The Burmese military government confirmed her transfer to solitary prison housing in a brief statement, claiming the process was done in accordance with Myanmar’s criminal code. However, three female jail staff members have been assigned to help Ms. Suu Kyi, who is said to be in good health.
The covert trials have been branded a fraud by international human rights organizations. Ms. Suu Kyi’s attorneys were not permitted to address the media and journalists were prohibited from attending the closed-door proceedings.
Ms. Suu Kyi disappeared from public eyes after the coup and has remained in solitary detention ever since. It’s unclear how long she will stay under such strict confinement.
However, the military is alleged to have planned to keep her in captivity forever, and further trials are still to come.
She has already been found guilty of inciting, corruption, infringing Covid-19 rules, and violating the country’s telecommunications legislation several times. The ousted leader faces more charges of alleged election fraud in the new court hearing.
If found guilty on all counts, she could face a prison sentence accounting for over 190 years combined, sources added.
