Suu Kyi Son Reports Five Years of Solitary Confinement

Kim Aris spoke by phone with his mother, Aung San Suu Kyi, for the first time in over five years on Thursday. The former Myanmar leader, who is 81, appears healthy and mentally sharp, according to Aris, who made the call from the Myanmar embassy in London.

Aris stated that he believes his mother is held in solitary confinement at a fenced-off residence in Naypyidaw. He said she has no visitors other than military or police personnel and is cut off from news sources like radio, television, and newspapers. He described the location as having scrubby land surrounding the property.

The call came as the military junta seeks to improve its diplomatic standing. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing recently changed from military fatigues to civilian clothes following elections that many observers criticized as a sham. Aris called the invitation to speak part of a public relations effort by the military leaders.

The government released photos last week showing Suu Kyi smiling in a wood-paneled room. Officials presented her with two gardening books that were gifts from King Charles III of Britain. A calendar on the wall displayed the current date. Aris referred to these image releases as familiar stunts intended to show the regime treats his mother fairly.

Suu Kyi was removed from power during the 2021 military coup and charged on what her son calls politically motivated counts. She has spent much of her life in detention since the late 1980s while leading pro-democracy movements. Her son noted that global support for her has decreased since the 2016 and 2017 violence against Rohingya Muslims, a period he said she was never silent about.

The 2021 takeover started a civil war that conflict monitors say has killed more than 100,000 people. Aris said the lack of international attention to Myanmar now harms the entire country. He urged the world to focus on what is happening in Burma regardless of the past controversies involving his mother.