Kim Aris Speaks with Aung San Suu Kyi After Six Years of Separation

Kim Aris spoke by telephone with his mother, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Thursday. The twenty-minute conversation marked their first direct contact since the Myanmar military coup of 2021. Aris, a carpenter based in London, described the exchange as a significant reassurance for the family after nearly six years of silence.

Aris said his mother’s initial question concerned his physical well-being. She is eighty-one years old and currently serving an eighteen-year sentence. Her original conviction totaled thirty-three years on charges of corruption and electoral fraud, which Western nations and human rights organizations have largely viewed as fabricated. The military later reduced her term, though the family maintains the legal process remains contested.

According to Aris, his mother is detained in a residence near Naypyidaw, the capital city. He described the location as a fenced compound with a modest garden, surrounded by police and military personnel. He believes she is effectively in solitary confinement, though not within a traditional prison cell. Aris added that she has access to books but likely lacks regular news through radio, television, or print media.

The son noted that Suu Kyi sounded strong despite suffering from tendonitis in her hand. The condition occasionally prevents her from using the limb. She receives medical checkups every six months. Aris plans to send a care package that includes a mix of healthy food and treats, potentially featuring cookies from a brand founded in Oxford. That is the city where he and his sister were raised by their parents before the family moved to Myanmar in 1988.

Aris believes the military monitored the call, which led both parties to avoid sensitive topics such as the ongoing civil war. He views the communication as an effort to improve the regime’s image. This diplomatic push coincides with President Min Aung Hlaing traveling abroad to seek international legitimacy after his installation in a military-engineered election in January. Aris expressed hope that global governments remain cautious about the military’s narrative.

The conflict that followed the coup has resulted in significant casualties. The monitoring group ACLED estimates that approximately 100,000 people have died. The United Nations reports that millions have been displaced. ACLED also notes a sharp increase in military attacks on civilians since Hlaing assumed the presidency. He remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, including the 2016 and 2017 killings and expulsions of Rohingya Muslims, an event Washington has labeled a genocide.

Suu Kyi’s international reputation took a hit in 2019 when she defended Myanmar at the International Court of Justice against allegations of genocide. Despite this, she remains widely beloved within the country. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the exiled National Unity Government, stated that the regime likely fears releasing her because her strength would bolster the revolution. Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group called her detention the most valuable asset for Hlaing. He warned that she could serve as a bargaining chip while airstrikes continue, noting that her release is unlikely to end the war on its own.

The U.S. State Department continues to express concern over unjust detentions. Its Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs urged the military in August to secure her immediate and unconditional release. Aris said the phone call may be a one-time event. He added that his mother believes her continued endurance provides strength to the people of Burma as they share in the struggle.