Myanmar Detention Update: Son Receives First Call in Six Years

A former leader of Myanmar spoke to her son by phone on Thursday for the first time since the military took power in 2021.

The conversation lasted 20 minutes. Kim Aris, a 49-year-old carpenter living in London, said his mother was alive and well. He noted that hearing her voice provided immediate reassurance to the family. Aris stated that her first words were a question about his own health. He shared the family's love and asked about her condition. She replied that she has considerable pain from tendonitis in her hand. At times, she cannot use the affected hand. She told him she receives a medical checkup every six months.

The military first detained Suu Kyi in 2021 after seizing power from her elected government. Subsequent trials in 2022 added charges of corruption and electoral fraud. These consecutive sentences originally totaled 33 years. Western nations and human rights groups widely criticized the legal proceedings as fabricated. Authorities later reduced her time. She still has 18 years remaining on her sentence. Khaing Khaing Soe, a spokesperson for the military-backed president, confirmed the call occurred via the Myanmar Embassy in London. He posted separate photos of the pair 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 surround the building. He described the location as fenced off with a scrubby garden. He said she is likely allowed to use that garden. Aris stated that she is effectively in solitary confinement, even if not in a prison cell. She can read books but does not have access to radio, television, or newspapers. He plans to send a care package. She requested a mix of healthy food and treats. He is considering sending Ben's Cookies, a brand from Oxford, England. She lived there with Aris and his brother before moving to Myanmar in 1988.

Aris believes the military monitored the call. He said sensitive topics like the civil war were off limits. He recalled the regime photographing parcels sent to her during her house arrest in Yangon from 1989 to 2010. He views the call as an effort to improve the military's image. Leader Min Aung Hlaing, who became president after a January election, is traveling abroad seeking legitimacy. Aris said he hopes foreign governments do not accept the appearance of normalcy at face value.

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 states the military has increased attacks on civilians since Hlaing took office. Regional governments continue diplomatic engagement despite this escalation. Hlaing remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, including the 2016 and 2017 killings of Rohingya Muslims. The United States declared those events a genocide. Suu Kyi's international standing declined in 2019 when she defended Myanmar at the International Court of Justice. She remains popular within the country.

Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the exiled National Unity Government, said the regime dares not release her. He argued her strength would combine with the revolution if she were free. Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group described her status as a valuable card for Hlaing. 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 said it remains concerned about everyone it considers unjustly detained. It urged the military to hold genuine dialogue with all opposition groups. The bureau for East Asian and Pacific Affairs called for her immediate and unconditional release in August. Aris said the call may be a one-off event. He noted his mother believes she gives the people of Burma strength by sharing their struggles.