Aung San Suu Kyi's son confirms five years without family contact

Aung San Suu Kyi has had no contact with her family for five years, a period of isolation confirmed by her son Kim Aris following his first phone call with the former leader. The 81-year-old ex-state counsellor appeared to be in good physical and mental condition during the conversation, according to Aris, who spoke from the Myanmar embassy in London on Thursday.

Aris described the conditions of his mother's detention as solitary confinement. He stated that he does not believe she is surrounded by anyone other than military or police personnel. He characterized her location as a fenced-off residence in the capital, Naypyidaw, situated near a patch of scrubby land, though he noted he is still unsure of the exact site.

The junta granted Aris permission to speak with his mother after he had spent most of his life in the United Kingdom. He viewed the invitation as part of a public relations campaign by the military leaders who seized power in 2021. Former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has recently moved to rebuild diplomatic ties abroad, including swapping his military fatigues for civilian clothes after elections that were widely condemned as a sham.

Activists have long demanded proof of life for Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. The government released images of her last week, showing her smiling in a wood-panelled room while officials handed over two gardening books as gifts from Britain's King Charles. A paper calendar on the wall behind her confirmed the date. Aris described these photo opportunities as familiar stunts used by the regime to suggest fair treatment.

Aris emphasized that his mother remains completely cut off from the outside world. He said she is not permitted access to newspapers, radio, or television. He argued that she has been locked up for five years on politically motivated charges and should be released. The former Nobel Peace Prize laureate has spent much of her life since the late 1980s in and out of house arrest for leading pro-democracy movements.

The 2021 military takeover triggered a civil war that conflict monitors say has killed more than 100,000 people. Aris noted that global public support for his mother has dwindled since the 2016 and 2017 mass killings and expulsions of Rohingya Muslims. He argued that the lack of international attention to Myanmar's current crisis should not be attributed solely to the country's handling of the Rohingya population.

Aris defended his mother's stance on the Rohingya crisis, stating she was never silent on the issue. He added that what she said about it could fill volumes. Under her leadership, Myanmar began a domestic inquiry and appointed former UN chief Kofi Annan to lead a commission. He recalled that she was always walking on a tightrope as state counsellor, knowing the military could remove her fragile power at any time.