Myanmar's military junta announced on Thursday that former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been transferred from prison to house arrest as part of a sentence reduction amnesty. Her son, Kim Aris, dismissed the move as a public relations stunt and demanded verified proof of life.

State television released an image of Suu Kyi in a blouse and skirt sitting on a bench behind two unidentified uniformed men; the date of the photo was not disclosed. Suu Kyi has not been seen in public since her detention in February 2021, when the military seized power from her elected government.

Her legal team, which has been denied in-person meetings since December 2022, plans to visit her this weekend. A legal representative told Reuters the meeting would be different from standard prison visits, allowing discussion of legal matters.

Kim Aris posted on Facebook: 'Moving her is not freeing her. My request is simple: verified information that my mother is alive, the ability to communicate with her, and to see her free.' He called on the junta to provide concrete evidence of her well-being.

Earlier Thursday, authorities announced a one-sixth reduction of Suu Kyi's sentence as part of a Buddhist holiday amnesty. The transfer to house arrest was later described by the junta as a demonstration of 'benevolence and goodwill,' though her exact location was not specified.

Suu Kyi was originally sentenced to 33 years in late 2022, later reduced to 27. The latest amnesty cuts her term to 18 years, with over 13 years remaining. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the transfer a 'meaningful step' toward credible political progress, while human rights group Burma Campaign UK condemned it as a 'public relations exercise designed to preserve military rule.'

Source: www.dw.com