The son of Aung San Suu Kyi, the former leader of Myanmar, has urged the Myanmar government to present evidence confirming that she is still alive, after having received no contact from her despite her transfer to house arrest.
This development occurred last Tuesday (5 May), when Kim Aris sought France's assistance to independently verify his mother's status after she has been detained for several years.
Earlier, Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar's military government who seized power in a coup, ordered last Thursday the transfer of 80-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi from detention to house arrest, after holding her for over five years since the coup.
However, Kim Aris revealed that he has yet to receive any contact from his mother, despite her remaining a significant figure in Myanmar.
In a letter to President Emmanuel Macron, seen by AFP, Kim Aris wrote, "I implore France to join in demanding independent evidence that she is alive, and to ensure her basic rights are protected, including proper medical care, access to legal counsel, and communication with family."
Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer, François Zimeray, disclosed that Kim Aris handed the letter to French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian during a meeting on the same day.
Zimeray also stated that they have no evidence that she is alive, no recent photographs, and even the transfer of her detention location has not been confirmed. They do not know her whereabouts.
Previously, Min Aung Hlaing’s office released undated photos appearing to show Aung San Suu Kyi sitting beside two uniformed officers, but the lawyer questioned their authenticity, suggesting the images might be fake or generated by AI technology.
Meanwhile, another lawyer, Catalina de la Sota, expressed serious concern about her health and questioned why information about her is so tightly restricted, which could violate international convention principles.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian reaffirmed during talks that France will continue to push for Aung San Suu Kyi’s immediate and unconditional release.
Min Aung Hlaing led the 2021 coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government and has brought multiple charges against her, which human rights organizations view as fabricated to exclude her from politics.
This situation has sparked a civil war in Myanmar, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing millions within the country of about 50 million people.
.source :channelnewsasia
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