Myanmar reduces Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence once more

Myanmar’s coup leader-turned president Min Aung Hlaing on Thursday ordered a one-sixth reduction in the sentences of all prisoners, a move that will further shorten the detention of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to a source close to her.

Suu Kyi has been held incommunicado since the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état. A senior figure from her dissolved National League for Democracy (NLD) said her term has been reduced again, though the exact length of her remaining sentence is still unclear.

“We don’t know precisely how many years she has left,” the source told AFP on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

The military ousted Suu Kyi’s elected government five years ago, detaining her on multiple charges that rights groups say were fabricated to sideline her, sparking an ongoing civil conflict.

Myanmar has since been led by Min Aung Hlaing, first as army chief and more recently as civilian president following a tightly controlled election that excluded the NLD. Democracy observers have criticized the process as a continuation of military rule under a civilian guise.

A statement from the president’s office said the sentence reduction was issued to mark a public holiday, noting that prisoners would “have their remaining sentences cut by one-sixth.” While no individuals were named, the NLD source confirmed that Suu Kyi, now 80, would benefit from the measure.

However, it remains uncertain how much of her sentence—handed down in closed-door trials—has already been served, making it difficult to determine the exact reduction.

Initially sentenced to more than 30 years on charges ranging from corruption to violating Covid-19 restrictions, Suu Kyi saw her term reduced to 27 years following a partial pardon in 2023.

Earlier this month, Min Aung Hlaing issued a similar order trimming prison terms, and also pardoned former president Win Myint, fuelling speculation that Suu Kyi’s detention conditions could be eased.

Despite her continued popularity in Myanmar, Suu Kyi remains largely cut off from the outside world, with her family expressing concern over her declining health.