Family Connection: Suu Kyi Speaks to Son After Six Years of Silence

For the first time in nearly six years, Kim Aris has spoken directly to his mother, Aung San Suu Kyi. The twenty-minute telephone conversation occurred on Thursday, ending a long period of silence that began when the Myanmar military seized power in 2021. The call provides the first personal update on the former leader's condition since she was removed from office and placed under detention.

Aris, a 49-year-old carpenter living in London, described the exchange as reassuring. His mother’s first words were a query about his health, which he noted with relief. "My mother is actually alive and well," Aris stated in an interview. "Hearing her voice has reassured me." This direct contact follows years of indirect communication and public statements regarding her status.

Suu Kyi, 81, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 before facing a series of legal proceedings. She was first sentenced in 2021, and subsequent trials extended her total time to 33 years on charges of corruption and electoral fraud. While the sentence was later reduced to 18 years, international observers and Western governments have largely viewed the charges as politically motivated. The Myanmar military-backed president’s spokesperson confirmed the call was arranged through the embassy in London.

The son revealed that his mother is held in a residence near the capital, Naypyidaw. He believes the building is surrounded by police and military personnel, with a small garden available for her use. Aris characterized the situation as solitary confinement, noting that while she can read books, she likely lacks access to radio, television, or newspapers. Her health remains a concern, with Aris reporting that she suffers from painful tendonitis in her hand, which sometimes prevents her from using it. She told him she receives medical checkups every six months.

The call was reportedly monitored by the military, leading both parties to avoid sensitive topics such as the ongoing civil war. Aris compared the situation to his mother’s earlier house arrest in Yangon, where the regime used sent packages for propaganda. He suspects the military aims to improve its international image as President Min Aung Hlaing seeks legitimacy abroad. "I hope that governments around the world won't be taken in," Aris said, noting that he is considering sending a care package that mixes healthy food with treats.

The coup that led to Suu Kyi’s detention triggered a civil war that has killed approximately 100,000 people, according to the monitoring group ACLED. Millions have been displaced, and the military has increased attacks on civilians since Min Aung Hlaing took the presidency in January. He remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, including the 2016-2017 crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, which Washington declared a genocide. Suu Kyi’s international reputation was affected in 2019 when she defended Myanmar at the International Court of Justice, though she remains popular domestically.

Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the exiled National Unity Government, stated that the regime likely refuses to release her because her strength could bolster the revolution. Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group described her as a valuable bargaining chip for the military, warning that her release is unlikely to end the war on its own. He noted that airstrikes continue while regional governments engage in diplomacy.

The U.S. State Department expressed concern about unjustly detained individuals and urged the military to engage in genuine dialogue with opposition groups. In August, the bureau called for Suu Kyi’s immediate and unconditional release. Aris believes the phone call may be a one-off event. He said his mother believes that sharing her experience gives strength to the people of Burma as they continue to endure the conflict.