BANGKOK (AP) — A court-ordered auction of the family home of Myanmar's imprisoned former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, failed to attract any bidders on Wednesday. The property, located in Yangon, holds historical significance as the place where Suu Kyi was held under house arrest for nearly 15 years during her nonviolent struggle against military rule, a feat that earned her the Nobel Peace Prize.
The auction, with a minimum price set at 315 billion kyats ($90 million), was intended to divide the proceeds between Suu Kyi and her estranged older brother. However, the lack of bidders resulted in an unsuccessful auction.
The lakeside property, which has served as a political shrine and unofficial party headquarters, was the site where Suu Kyi welcomed prominent figures such as U.S. President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Suu Kyi, currently serving a 27-year prison sentence following the military's seizure of power in February 2021, has faced a series of legal cases that her supporters view as attempts to discredit her and justify the military's actions.
The Supreme Court's decision in August 2022 mandated the auction of the property, which was at the center of a long-standing legal dispute between Suu Kyi and her brother, Aung San Oo. The two-story colonial-style building was originally given to Suu Kyi's mother, Khin Kyi, by the government after the assassination of independence hero Gen. Aung San in 1947.
Despite the failed auction, the legal proceedings surrounding the property are ongoing, with details yet to be disclosed. The property's significance as a cultural heritage site has been emphasized by the National Unity Government, Myanmar's self-proclaimed legitimate governing body, which has opposed the sale or destruction of the property.
Myanmar has been embroiled in turmoil since the military takeover in 2021, leading to widespread protests, violent crackdowns, and armed resistance that has escalated into what is widely described as a civil war.
