Kim Aris, son of Aung San Suu Kyi, revealed that he spoke by phone with his mother for the first time in over five years. Although contact was permitted, he remains concerned about her health at age 81. He stated clearly that Myanmar’s military still fears her stature and popular support, so there is no chance of her release. He also pointed out that the images of her receiving a letter from King Charles are merely a staged effort to legitimize the military government.
Kim Aris, son of former Myanmar democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, disclosed today (22 Oct) that he was allowed to speak with his mother for the first time in over five years since her detention following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar.
Aris posted on Facebook that he finally spoke with his mother again after more than five years without contact, saying hearing her voice again meant more than words could express. He thanked everyone who stood by him and his mother, believing that supporters’ voices helped make this communication possible.
However, Aris emphasized that his mother is now 81 years old and remains unjustly detained. He noted that this single conversation does not mean she will be allowed regular contact with her family.
Myanmar authorities say Suu Kyi is under house arrest in the capital, Naypyidaw, but have not disclosed details about how Aris, who resides in the United Kingdom, was able to speak with her. The images he shared alongside his Facebook message appear to show him standing outside the Myanmar embassy in London.
In an interview with The Independent during the screening of a documentary about his mother’s political journey and legacy in London, Aris expressed concern about Suu Kyi’s health and called for transparency regarding her detention conditions. He believes Myanmar’s military leaders remain wary of her political influence.
He stated that Suu Kyi’s influence in Myanmar is greater than many realize, with strong public support. He suggested that military leaders may not have fully appreciated this support when she was previously released but now understand it better.
Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her fight for democracy in Myanmar. However, her reputation suffered significantly due to her failure to clearly oppose the 2016 crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, which drew international criticism.
Since her arrest in February 2021, she has appeared publicly only a few times. In August, officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross visited her.
Recently, Myanmar authorities released photos showing Suu Kyi receiving two books about gardening and soil, along with a sealed letter from King Charles III of the United Kingdom, while under house arrest in Naypyidaw. The photos show her wearing traditional blouse and sarong, seated opposite two officials in a wood-paneled room.
The two books are The Land Gardeners: Soil to Table by British writers Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld, discussing the importance of fertile soil for quality food production, and Soil: The World at Our Feet, an exhibition book from Somerset House in London about soil’s significance for life on Earth.
Aris commented that releasing these photos may be the Myanmar military’s attempt to legitimize itself after elections held from late 2025 to early 2026. Amid calls from governments and leaders for transparency about his mother’s fate, he views the images as an effort to ease international pressure rather than genuine concern for her welfare.
Suu Kyi was detained when the military seized power from her elected government and has since been convicted on multiple charges including corruption, incitement, and election fraud. However, her supporters and human rights groups argue the trials were politically motivated.
In April 2026, the military government reduced her sentence through several amnesty measures, leaving her with 18 years to serve before she was moved from prison to house arrest. The exact location remains undisclosed, and concerns about her health persist.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s military leader, assumed the presidency in April 2026 after elections criticized as undemocratic, as key opposition figures including Suu Kyi and her party were barred from participating.
Since then, Min Aung Hlaing has sought to restore diplomatic ties with regional countries, visiting Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Nonetheless, Myanmar’s military leader has been excluded from ASEAN leaders’ summits since the coup due to failure to implement ASEAN’s five-point consensus aimed at ending violence in Myanmar, resulting in continued international isolation.
Min Aung Hlaing is also subject to U.S. sanctions over alleged human rights abuses, including his role in the coup, suppression of popular uprisings, and the 2016–2017 mass atrocities and expulsion of the Rohingya, which the U.S. government has labeled as genocide.
Aris called on the international community to maintain sanctions on Myanmar and focus on the humanitarian crisis faced by the people, noting ongoing air attacks, the continued detention of elected officials, and that recent elections should not be regarded as legitimate democratic processes.
He added that Myanmar’s military cannot win ground battles and relies on airstrikes and other tactics, having lost significant territory over the past five years and now being weaker than before the coup.
Aris concluded by expressing hope that the situation can still change but above all, he wants to see his mother freed. He noted her age of 81 and ongoing health issues, expressing uncertainty about how long she can endure such detention conditions.
. . .AFP / The Independent