Suu Kyi Held in Solitary for Five Years, Son Says

Aung San Suu Kyi is living in near-total isolation, her son Kim Aris said on Friday. The 81-year-old former democratic leader of Myanmar has been held in solitary confinement for five years, according to Aris, who spoke to her for the first time in that period. Aris described her mental state as sharp and her physical condition as strong.

Aris, who lives in the United Kingdom, made the call on Thursday at the Myanmar embassy in London. He said he believes his mother is kept in a fenced-off residence in the capital, Naypyidaw, with scrubby land surrounding it. He stated that he does not think she is visited by anyone other than military or police personnel. The former Nobel Peace Prize laureate was deposed in a 2021 military coup and moved to the unspecified location shortly after.

Aris characterized the phone invitation as part of a public relations campaign by the country’s military leaders. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has been working to rebuild diplomatic ties abroad. In April, Hlaing changed from military fatigues to civilian clothes following elections that many observers condemned as a sham. Aris said the regime frequently uses photo opportunities to suggest fair treatment of political prisoners.

Last week, a government spokesperson released images of Suu Kyi smiling in a wood-paneled room. Officials were seen handing her two gardening books, gifts from Britain’s King Charles. A paper calendar on the wall displayed the date. Suu Kyi was also photographed during a Red Cross visit in August. Aris said such staged moments are familiar tactics used by the regime.

Aris said his mother is not allowed access to newspapers, radio, or television. He described her situation as being locked up on trumped-up, politically motivated charges. He noted that she has spent much of her life in house arrest since the late 1980s for leading pro-democracy movements. Her son argued that she should be free after five years of detention.

The 2021 takeover triggered a civil war that conflict monitors say has killed more than 100,000 people. Aris said global support for his mother has dwindled since the Rohingya crisis, leading to a lack of international attention for Myanmar. He argued that the country's current struggles should not be overlooked due to past events involving the Rohingya.

Aris defended his mother’s record on the Rohingya, saying she was never silent on the issue. He noted that under her leadership, Myanmar began a domestic inquiry and appointed former UN chief Kofi Annan to lead a commission. He said she always walked on a tightrope as state counsellor, knowing the military could remove her fragile power at any time.