Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s former state counsellor, has been transferred from prison to house arrest due to intense heat, together with a massive amnesty, a spokesman for the Myanmar authorities said on April 17.

"Since the weather is extremely hot, (house arrest) is not only for Aung San Suu Kyi ... For all those, who need necessary precautions, especially elderly prisoners, we are working to protect them from heatstroke," Reuters cited Major General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman of Myanmar’s State Administration Council, as saying.

Suu Kyi, 78, has been detained since Feb 1, 2021, together with former Myanmar president Win Myint. She has been sentenced to 27 years’ imprisonment on charges including incitement, corruption, and violations to the telecommunications law.

The Myanmar government also granted amnesty for over 3,000 prisoners to mark this week’s New Year holiday, according to media reports.

The situation in Myanmar has attracted regional and global attention. In January, Alounkeo Kittikhoun, a Laotian diplomat and the special envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to Myanmar, met with Myanmar's Chairman of the State Administration Council Min Aung Hlaing.

On April 5, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Julie Bishop of Australia as the special envoy on Myanmar to engage different stakeholders, succeeding Noeleen Heyzer of Singapore.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said in March that there are plans for an election if there is peace and stability in the country.

In a daily news conference on April 16, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said that China called on all parties in Myanmar to stop the border region fighting, resolve the disputes through dialogue and consultation and through peaceful means.

Contact the writer at kelly@chinadailyapac.com