Suu Kyi sounds strong after five years

Aung San Suu Kyi is 81 years old and has not spoken to her son in more than five years. Kim Aris confirmed on Friday that he connected with his mother by phone for the first time since the 2021 military coup. He said she appeared mentally sharp and physically strong during the conversation.

Aris described her current living conditions as near-complete isolation. He believes she is held in a fenced-off residence in the capital, Naypyidaw, with scrubby land surrounding the property. He stated that he does not believe anyone other than military or police personnel is present at her location. This arrangement amounts to solitary confinement, according to Aris.

The call took place on Thursday at the Myanmar embassy in London. Aris, who has lived in the UK for most of his life, said the invitation was part of a public relations campaign by the military leaders. He welcomed the opportunity to speak but noted the strategic timing of the contact.

Former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has worked to rebuild diplomatic ties abroad. In April, he switched from military fatigues to civilian clothes following elections that observers widely condemned as a sham. Aris characterized the recent photo opportunities as familiar stunts used by the regime to suggest fair treatment.

A government spokesperson released images of Suu Kyi last week. The photos showed her smiling in a wood-panelled room as officials handed her two gardening books. These gifts were sent by Britain’s King Charles. A paper calendar on the wall behind her displayed the date. Aris said such images are used to mask the reality of her detention.

Suu Kyi remains shut off from the outside world, Aris said. He noted that she is not allowed access to newspapers, radio, or television. He described her charges as trumped-up and politically motivated. He argued that she should be free after five years of lockup.

The former state counsellor was deposed in the 2021 takeover that triggered a civil war. Conflict monitors report that the war has killed more than 100,000 people. Aris said global support for his mother has dwindled since the 2016 and 2017 Rohingya crisis. He added that the country suffers from a lack of international attention. He stated that the world’s focus on Burma should not depend on past events involving the Rohingya.