Suu Kyi tells son she has 18 years left to serve

Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has 18 years remaining on her prison sentence, according to her son Kim Aris. Aris spoke with his 81-year-old mother by phone on Thursday, marking their first direct conversation since the 2021 coup. The call lasted 20 minutes and took place after nearly six years of silence.

Aris, a 49-year-old carpenter living in London, said his mother asked about his health before he passed along the family’s love. He confirmed to NPR that she is alive and well. "Hearing her voice has reassured me," Aris said. The military-backed government said the call was arranged through Myanmar's Embassy in London and released photos of the two.

Aris learned his mother is held in a residence near the capital, Naypyidaw. He described the building as fenced off with a small garden. He believes police and military personnel surround the site. "From what I can ascertain, she's basically being held in solitary confinement even if she's not in a prison cell," he said. She can read books but does not have access to radio, television, or newspapers.

Suu Kyi suffers from tendonitis in her hand, causing considerable pain that sometimes prevents her from using it. She receives a health checkup every six months. Aris plans to send a care package containing a mix of healthy food and treats. He is considering Ben's Cookies, a brand from Oxford where the family lived before moving to Myanmar in 1988.

Aris believes the military monitored the call, so they avoided sensitive topics like the ongoing civil war. He views the call as a bid to improve the image of President Min Aung Lhaing. The coup has killed about 100,000 people, according to the monitoring group ACLED. The U.N. says millions have been displaced. Min Aung Hlaing remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, including the 2016-2017 Rohingya crisis.

Nay Phone Latt, spokesperson for the exiled National Unity Government, said the regime dares not release her because her strength would combine with the revolution. Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group called her status the most valuable card Min Aung Hlaing holds. He warned she could become a bargaining chip while airstrikes continue and said her release is very unlikely. The U.S. State Department urged the military to hold genuine dialogue with opposition groups and called for Suu Kyi's immediate and unconditional release in August.

Aris said the call may be a one-off. Suu Kyi told him she believes she gives the people of Burma strength by sharing what they are going through. She was first sentenced in 2021, and consecutive trials through 2022 brought her total sentence to 33 years on corruption and electoral fraud charges. The U.S. and Western countries widely condemned the charges as fabricated. The sentence was later reduced to the current 18 years.