Myanmar’s military-led government has lowered the prison sentences of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a clemency connected to a religious ceremony, state media said on Tuesday.
Former President Win Myint also had his sentence reduced as part of the clemency granted to more than 7,000 prisoners.
Suu Kyi, 78, is serving 33 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of 19 charges her supporters and rights group say were attempts to discredit her and legitimize the 2021 army takeover while preventing her return to politics.
The coup triggered civil war and has caused the deaths of thousands of people.
The military junta has also been accused of unleashing violence against those opposing its rule.
Some countries like China and Thailand have began negotiations with the junta, but these initiatives have been criticised for excluding Ms Suu Kyi’s party which won a huge majority in 2020 elections.
The extent of the win led the military to claim election fraud – which they then used as a justification for the coup. Any negotiations with the international players would certainly require the involvement of Ms. Suu Kyi. She has, however, been kept isolated since her arrest after the coup.
Ms Suu Kyi is appealing the convictions to the other offences like election fraud to corruption.
All the charges – which she has denied – were brought against her in military-run trials. Rights groups have condemned the court trials as a propaganda.
The military junta on Monday postponed an election promised to be held by August this year after its coup two years ago.
