Myanmar officials auctioned former leader Suu Kyi's lakeside villa with a starting price of 150 million USD, but no one bought it.
A two-story villa on a plot of more than 7.600 square meters of land in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, was put up for auction today, after a decades-long property dispute between former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. and her brother. This is a house that dates back to the time when Myanmar was still a British colony and is a few streets away from the US embassy.
Officials announced the opening of the auction by ringing the bell three times. The host announced that the starting price was 315 billion kyat (150 million USD), but no one bid. The auction ended immediately afterward.
This figure is based on an asset valuation given by a lawyer for Suu Kyi's brother, Aung San Oo, according to the ongoing lawsuit. Similar sized properties in upscale areas in Yangon cost around 1-2 million USD.
Mr. Aung San Oo, currently an American citizen, has not commented on the auction.
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's lakeside villa in Yangon, Myanmar in 2009. Photo: AFP
After Suu Kyi's father, General Aung San, was assassinated in 1947, the Myanmar government gave the villa to her mother, Khin Kyi. She passed away in 1988.
Ms. Suu Kyi was placed under military arrest at this villa for about 15 years, after she became famous during protests against the government in 1988. Separated from her husband and children who were then in England, Ms. Suu Kyi spends her time playing the piano, reading detective novels and meditating here.
Hundreds of people regularly gather on the sidewalk outside the compound to hear her speak about democracy and protesting the military government through nonviolence.
After being released in 2010, she continued to live in this place, welcoming a series of foreign leaders, journalists and diplomats. In 2012, then US President Barack Obama visited her at the villa.
She left Yangon in 2012 and moved to the capital Naypyidaw under a power-sharing agreement with the military.
Ms. Suu Kyi, currently 78 years old, continues to be detained by the military government since February 2 after the coup. She was charged with dozens of crimes, including violating the state secrets act, corruption and election fraud, and was sentenced to 2021 years in prison.
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi (blue shirt) in Naypyitaw in 2016. Photo: Reuters
Huyen Le (Follow AFP)
