Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to son after six years
The former leader told her son she has 18 years left in solitary confinement and is suffering from severe hand pain.
By Benjamin Bernard ·
Aung San Suu Kyi spoke by phone with her son for the first time in nearly six years on Thursday. The 20-minute call ended a long silence that began when the Myanmar military seized power in 2021.
Kim Aris, a 49-year-old carpenter living in London, said his mother asked about his health first. He confirmed she is alive and well. "Hearing her voice has reassured me," Aris told NPR. He described her condition as strong but noted she suffers from tendonitis in her hand, which sometimes makes it difficult for her to use.
Suu Kyi, 81, faces a reduced sentence of 18 years after being convicted on corruption and electoral fraud charges. The U.S. and Western allies have called those charges fabricated. Aris learned during the call that she is held in a residence near Naypyidaw, the capital. He believes police and military personnel surround the fenced-off building. "From what I can ascertain, she's basically being held in solitary confinement even if she's not in a prison cell," he said. She has access to books but likely lacks news from radio, television, or newspapers.
Khaing Khaing Soe, a spokesperson for the military-backed president, confirmed the call was arranged through the Myanmar Embassy in London. Aris believes the military monitored the conversation, so they avoided sensitive topics like the ongoing civil war. He sees the contact as an effort to boost the image of President Min Aung Hlaing. "I hope that governments around the world won't be taken in," Aris said.
The coup that led to her detention sparked a civil war that has killed about 100,000 people, according to the monitoring group ACLED. The U.N. reports millions have been displaced. The U.S. State Department urged the military in August to secure Suu Kyi's immediate and unconditional release. It remains concerned about those it considers unjustly detained.
Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group called Suu Kyi the most valuable card held by the military leadership. He warned she could become a bargaining chip while airstrikes continue. He said her release is very unlikely and would not end the war on its own.
Aris plans to send a care package containing a mix of healthy food and treats. He is considering Ben's Cookies, a brand from Oxford, England, where Suu Kyi raised her sons before moving to Myanmar in 1988. She told him she receives a health checkup every six months.
Source: NPR
