Burma: reduced prison sentence for iconic Aung San Suu Kyi

The prison sentence of fallen icon of Burmese democracy Aung San Suu Kyi was reduced on Friday as part of a broad amnesty decided by the new president, who overthrew her government in a military coup in 2021.

Celebrated throughout the week, the Burmese New Year, Thingyan, is marked by massive sprinklings of water symbolizing renewal and the purification of sins.

Amnesties are traditionally granted on this occasion and this year's amnesty was eagerly awaited in a context of transition at the head of the country.

A week after being sworn in as president following an electoral process criticized abroad, former junta leader Min Aung Hlaing made several gestures.

In particular, he canceled all death sentences, announced the release of more than 4,000 prisoners, including former president Win Myint, and reduced by a sixth all sentences below 40 years.

This “also applies” to that of Aung San Suu Kyi, a source close to the matter told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, aged 80, is currently serving a 27-year sentence, in an undisclosed location, for various politically motivated charges, her defenders denounce.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on Friday for his "immediate" and "unconditional" release, as well as that of "all people unjustly detained since the 2021 coup d'état".

- Former president released -

The New Year's amnesty saw the release of former president Win Myint, also imprisoned since the coup. In 2018, he took on this role, then essentially symbolic, in the shadow of Aung San Suu Kyi.

This pardon is part of a “national reconstruction” effort, Min Aung Hlaing’s office said in a press release.

The 69-year-old leader had announced earlier in the day that "all those serving death sentences will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment."

According to the UN, more than 130 people, mainly dissidents, were sentenced to death after the junta took power, but precise figures are difficult to establish in a country with an opaque judicial system, in the grip of a civil war.

In front of Insein prison in Rangoon, families waited Friday morning in the crushing heat to find out if their loved ones would be among those pardoned.

“My brother was imprisoned for political reasons,” testified Aung Htet Naing, 38. "He was not included in previous pardons so we don't want to have too many hopes."

- "Lucky" -

Journalist and documentary maker Shin Daewe was released from prison, more than two years after being sentenced to life imprisonment - a sentence later