Myanmar Leader's Son Hears Her Voice After Six Years of Silence

Kim Aris spoke with his mother, former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, for the first time in nearly six years on Thursday. The 20-minute phone call marked the first direct conversation between them since the military coup of 2021. Aris, a 49-year-old carpenter living in London, said the contact provided reassurance about her survival and status.

Suu Kyi, who is 81 years old, faces a total of 18 remaining years in detention. She was initially sentenced in 2021, and subsequent trials through 2022 added time for corruption and electoral fraud charges, bringing her original total to 33 years. The sentence was later reduced. Western nations and human rights organizations have frequently criticized the charges as fabricated.

Khaing Khaing Soe, a spokesperson for the military-backed president, confirmed the call on social media. He stated that Myanmar's Embassy in London arranged the conversation. Soe shared photographs of the two individuals separately. Aris reported that his mother asked about his health first. He replied with family news and inquired about her well-being. He described her as alive and well.

The former leader is held at a residence near the capital, Naypyidaw. Aris believes police and military personnel surround the building. He described it as fenced off with a small, unremarkable garden that she likely uses. He characterized her situation as solitary confinement, despite the lack of a prison cell. She can read books but does not have access to news via radio, television, or newspapers.

Health concerns have weighed on the family for years. Aris noted that she sounded strong during the call but suffers from tendonitis in her hand. The pain sometimes prevents her from using the limb. She receives a medical checkup every six months. 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 she raised her sons before moving to Myanmar in 1988.

Aris believes the military monitored the conversation. Sensitive topics, including the ongoing civil war, were avoided. He recalled the regime's practice during her house arrest in Yangon from 1989 to 2010, when officials photographed parcels sent to her for propaganda purposes. He views the call as an image-building effort by the military. Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing, installed as president after a military-engineered election in January, is traveling abroad to seek international legitimacy. Aris warned that global governments should not be deceived by the gesture.

The 2021 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 states that military attacks on civilians have escalated since Min Aung Hlaing became president. Regional governments are increasing diplomatic engagement despite the violence. Min Aung Hlaing remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, including the 2016 to 2017 killings and expulsions of Rohingya Muslims, which Washington has declared a genocide.

Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the exiled National Unity Government, stated that the regime dares not release Suu Kyi because her strength would bolster the revolution. Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group described her status as the most valuable card held by Min Aung Hlaing. He warned she could serve as a bargaining chip while airstrikes continue. He called her release very unlikely and noted it would not end the war alone.

The U.S. State Department expressed concern for those it considers unjustly detained. It urged the military to hold genuine dialogue with all 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-time event. His mother believes that sharing her experience gives the people of Myanmar strength.