Aung San Suu Kyi was used as a human shield to protect the junta from drone attacks

Aung San Suu Kyi has been transferred from prison to house arrest as a health measure, according to Myanmar's ruling junta. Photo: Aung Shine Oo/AP

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's detained former leader, is being used as a “human shield” to protect the ruling junta from drone attacks, her son claims.

This week Su Zhi was transferred from prison to house arrest. The Army said the change was intended to protect her and other elderly prisoners from hot weather. It is unclear where exactly she was transported.

However, her son Kim Aris, who lives in London, argued that the real reason was that the junta was trying to protect itself from a wave of rebel attacks.

“I think they have their own reasons for moving her, which is that they would like to use her as a human shield or a bargaining chip,” he told Reuters.

This could be “against the armed drones that are being used to try to overthrow this military tyranny of the brave opposition”, he said in a separate interview with The Independent.

Lynn Tan, a spokeswoman for the opposition National Unity Government party, an alliance of anti-junta groups, echoed Mr Aris' concerns.

“There is a real risk that the junta will strategically position [Ms Suu Kyi] and president at key military installations, thereby exposing them to potential persecution by revolutionary forces,” Tan said in a statement.

Kim Aris, who lives in London, claims the ruling junta moved his mother to protect itself from a surge in rebel attacks. Photo: Suzanne Plunkett/REUTERS

Ms Suu Kyi has been detained by Myanmar's military since it overthrew her government in a 2021 coup.

The junta's crackdown on protests following the coup has since sparked a massive uprising and new conflict with some ethnic armies.

Across the country, the Armed Resistance Movement is increasingly coordinating attacks with established ethnic rebel groups to challenge the military.

The army has suffered a number of defeats , most notably the loss of large parts of territory in northern Shan State to the Brotherhood Alliance. , three ethnic armies that now control much of the border with China.

World leaders and pro-democracy activists have repeatedly called for Ms Suu Kyi's release. She faces 27 years in prison for crimes ranging from treason and bribery to violating the telecommunications law. She denies all charges.