Suu Kyi Tells Son She Faces 18 More Years in Solitary Confinement

Aung San Suu Kyi has 18 years left to serve on her sentence, she told her son in a rare phone call on Thursday. The 20-minute conversation was their first direct contact since the military coup in 2021. Kim Aris, a 49-year-old carpenter living in London, said his mother’s first words concerned his health. He confirmed she is alive and well, noting that hearing her voice provided reassurance after six years of silence.

The call was arranged through the Myanmar Embassy in London, according to Khaing Khaing Soe, a spokesperson for the military-backed government. Soe shared photographs of the two on social media. Aris learned that his mother is held at a residence near the capital, Naypyidaw. He believes the building is fenced off and surrounded by police and military personnel. He described the site as having a scrubby garden where she is likely allowed to walk. "From what I can ascertain, she's basically being held in solitary confinement even if she's not in a prison cell," he said.

Suu Kyi, 81, was first sentenced in 2021. Consecutive trials through 2022 increased her total sentence to 33 years on corruption and electoral fraud charges. The U.S., Western nations, and human rights groups have called the charges fabricated. Her sentence was later reduced, leaving 18 years remaining. She is believed to be in considerable pain from tendonitis in her hand, which she sometimes cannot use. She told Aris she receives a health checkup every six months. He does not believe she has access to news via radio, television, or newspapers, though she can read books.

Aris plans to send a care package containing a mix of healthy food and treats. He is considering including Ben's Cookies, a brand from Oxford, England, where Suu Kyi raised her sons with her late husband, Michael Aris, before moving to Burma in 1988. The family had previously worried about her health, but Aris said she sounded strong during the call. He believes the military monitored the conversation, which led them to avoid sensitive topics like the ongoing civil war.

The coup triggered a conflict that has killed about 100,000 people, according to the monitoring group ACLED. The U.N. reports that millions have been displaced. ACLED states that the military has intensified attacks on civilians since Min Aung Hlaing became president in January. Hlaing remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, including the 2016-2017 killings of Rohingya Muslims. Suu Kyi’s international standing dropped in 2019 when she defended Myanmar at the International Court of Justice against those allegations, though she remains popular domestically.

Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the exiled National Unity Government, said the regime dares not release Suu Kyi because her strength would aid the revolution. Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group called her detention the most valuable card Hlaing holds. He warned she could become a bargaining chip while airstrikes continue, adding that her release is unlikely and would not end the war alone.

The U.S. State Department said it remains concerned about those it considers unjustly detained. It urged the military to hold genuine dialogue with opposition groups. In August, the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs called for Suu Kyi’s immediate and unconditional release. Aris said the call may be a one-off event. He noted that his mother believes she gives the people of Burma strength by sharing their experience.