Min Aung Hlaing, who has been in power in Myanmar since a 2021 military coup, overthrew the elected government and placed Suu Kyi under house arrest. Since then, the country has been mired in civil war.
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Thailand's foreign minister has said that Myanmar's military leadership has indicated that it is considering "positive steps" regarding the detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The foreign minister recently met with top leaders in the Myanmar capital Naypyidaw. The statement comes amid growing regional and international pressure, which has reignited concerns about Suu Kyi's possible release.
Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing, who has been in power since a 2021 military coup, ousted the elected government and detained Suu Kyi. The country has been mired in civil war since then. Analysts believe that he is trying to legitimize his rule by recently presenting himself as a civilian president.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkol said in a video message after a meeting in Naypyidaw on Wednesday that Suu Kyi was being “well looked after” by the Myanmar side. He added that “some positive things are being thought about,” and that this could be taken as a “positive signal.”
Meanwhile, last week, the Myanmar administration granted amnesty to Suu Kyi’s close ally and former president Win Myint. The move has been seen by some as a sign of reform, while many analysts see it as a strategic move aimed at gaining international recognition.
With Win Myint’s release, diplomatic pressure for Suu Kyi’s release has intensified again. Suu Kyi, who is in her late 80s, has been in detention for five years and has had limited contact with her family. Rights groups have criticized the cases against her as politically motivated.
Sources say Suu Kyi's 27-year sentence has been reduced somewhat as part of a recent Myanmar New Year amnesty, but it is not clear how much. However, the Myanmar government has refused to comment publicly on her cases, calling them a court matter.
Meanwhile, democracy advocates have rejected Myanmar's recent elections as a "controlled and unreliable process." Voting was not possible because large parts of the country were still under the control of rebel groups. Armed groups have also said they will continue their struggle, rejecting the elections.
