Myanmar ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi reports strong health after five-year silence
Her son confirms she is alive but held in solitary confinement in Naypyidaw, a move activists say masks a diplomatic pivot by the military.
By Noor Haddad ·
Aung San Suu Kyi, the 81-year-old former leader of Myanmar, appears to be in good physical and mental condition, according to her son. Kim Aris made this assessment after a phone call on Thursday, marking their first direct contact in more than five years. The conversation took place at the Myanmar embassy in London, a location Aris noted was part of a calculated public relations effort by the military government.
Aris stated that his mother sounds strong and mentally sharp. He believes she is currently held in solitary confinement, with no one present except military or police personnel. The specific location remains unconfirmed, but Aris estimates it is a fenced-off residence in the capital, Naypyidaw, surrounded by scrubby land. This isolation prevents her from receiving newspapers, radio, or television, leaving her cut off from the outside world.
The former Nobel Peace Prize laureate was deposed in a 2021 military coup. Since then, she has faced charges that Aris describes as politically motivated and trumped up. Activists have long campaigned for proof of her life, a demand the junta partially met last week. A government spokesperson released images of Suu Kyi smiling in a wood-panelled room while officials handed her two gardening books. These gifts were given by Britain's King Charles. A paper calendar in the background confirmed the date of the photograph.
Aris characterized these photo opportunities as familiar stunts used by the regime to project fairness. He contrasted this with the reality of her confinement, noting she has been locked up for five years. The military leadership, headed by Min Aung Hlaing, has recently shifted its tactics. In April, Hlaing swapped his military fatigues for civilian clothes following elections that were widely criticized as a sham. This change in attire accompanied a push to rebuild diplomatic ties abroad.
Myanmar’s political landscape shifted dramatically after Suu Kyi’s party won a landslide victory in 2015. She served as state counsellor under a civilian-military power-sharing deal. Her international standing took a hit after the mass killings of Rohingya Muslims in 2016 and 2017. At the International Court of Justice in The Hague, she acknowledged that military units might have used disproportionate force but defended the government against genocide accusations.
Aris rejected the narrative that his mother remained silent on the Rohingya crisis. He argued that her statements on the issue could fill volumes and noted that she appointed former UN chief Kofi Annan to lead a domestic inquiry. He described her position as state counsellor as a tightrope walk, knowing the military could remove her power at any time. The army worked to undermine her position throughout her tenure.
The 2021 takeover ignited a civil war that conflict monitors say has killed more than 100,000 people. Aris observed that global support for his mother has dwindled significantly since the Rohingya crisis. He expressed frustration that international attention on the country has faded, noting that the neglect of Burma should not be attributed to the handling of the Rohingya population. The military continues to hold her in the capital, awaiting a decision on her fate.
Source: The Guardian
