Myanmar Detention: Son Hears Mother's Voice After Six Years

Aung San Suu Kyi has been held by the Myanmar military since the February 2021 coup that ousted her government. Her son, Kim Aris, spoke with her by phone on Thursday. This was their first direct conversation in nearly six years.

The call lasted 20 minutes. Aris, a 49-year-old carpenter living in London, said he received the news of the call from his family. He described the conversation as a reassurance of his mother's physical presence. She is 81 years old and currently serving an 18-year sentence. Her original 33-year sentence, handed down in 2021 and 2022 for corruption and electoral fraud, was reduced. The U.S. and other Western nations have called those charges fabricated.

Khaing Khaing Soe, a spokesperson for the military-backed president, confirmed the call took place. He stated that Myanmar's Embassy in London arranged the communication. Soe shared photographs of both parties on social media. Aris learned during the call that his mother is held at a residence near the capital, Naypyidaw. He believes police and military personnel guard the building. The site is fenced off and has a garden, which he believes she is allowed to use. He described her situation as solitary confinement, even though she is not in a prison cell. She can read books but likely lacks access to news media.

Health concerns have weighed on the family for years. Aris said his mother sounded strong but reported significant pain from tendonitis in her hand. She told him she receives medical checkups every six months. Aris plans to send a care package. Suu Kyi requested a mix of healthy food and treats. He is considering sending Ben's Cookies, a brand from Oxford, England, where she raised her sons before moving to Myanmar in 1988.

Aris believes the military monitored the call. Sensitive topics, including the ongoing civil war, were avoided. He recalled the regime's past practice of photographing parcels sent to Suu Kyi during her house arrest in Yangon from 1989 to 2010. He views the call as an image-building effort by President Min Aung Hlaing. Hlaing was installed as president after a military-engineered election in January and is traveling abroad to seek legitimacy. Aris warned that world governments should not be deceived by the gesture.

The coup triggered a civil war that has killed approximately 100,000 people, according to the monitoring group ACLED. The United Nations reports that millions have been displaced. ACLED notes a sharp escalation in attacks on civilians since Hlaing became president. He remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, including the 2016-2017 killings of Rohingya Muslims, which Washington declared a genocide. Suu Kyi's international reputation took a hit in 2019 when she defended the country at the International Court of Justice, though she remains popular within Myanmar.

Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the exiled National Unity Government, stated the regime dare not release her. He argued her strength would bolster the revolution. Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group called her status the most valuable card Hlaing holds. 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. The U.S. State Department expressed concern for all unjustly detained individuals. It urged the military to hold genuine dialogue with opposition groups. In August, the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs called for her immediate and unconditional release. Aris said the call may be a one-off. He believes his mother feels that sharing her experience gives the people of Burma strength.

Aris said his mother asked about his health first. He passed on the family's love. He confirmed she is alive and well. The call was arranged through the embassy in London. It was their first direct contact since the coup.