Aung San Suu Kyi is moved to house arrest over heatstroke fears

• Suu Kyi was detained by the Myanmar military during a 2021 military coup
• She’s now been moved out of prison and on to house arrest due to the heat 

Myanmar’s detained former leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house arrest, a spokesperson for the military government said.

Suu Kyi, 78, has been detained – at times in solitary confinement – by the Myanmar military since it overthrew her government in a 2021 coup.

‘Since the weather is extremely hot, it is not only for Aung San Suu Kyi … For all those, who need necessary precautions, especially elderly prisoners, we are working to protect them from heatstroke,’ junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun said in comments reported by local media outlets.

She faces 27 years in prison for crimes ranging from treason and bribery to violations of the telecommunications law, charges she denies.

Suu Kyi, 78, has been detained by the Myanmar military since it overthrew her government in a 2021 coup

In February, her son Kim Aris said she was being held in solitary confinement and that she was in good spirits ‘even if her health is not as good as it was in the past’.

World leaders and pro-democracy activists have repeatedly called for her release.

A spokesperson for the NUG shadow government called for the unconditional release of Suu Kyi and U Win Myint, Myanmar’s ousted president, who has also been moved to house arrest according to the media reports.

‘Moving them from prisons to houses is good, as houses are better than prisons. However, they must be unconditionally freed. They must take full responsibility for the health and security of Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint,’ spokesperson Kyaw Zaw said late on Tuesday.

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