Myanmar Detainee Aung San Suu Kyi Tells Son She Has 18 Years Left

Kim Aris, 49, received a 20-minute phone call from his mother, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Thursday. It was the first direct conversation between them since the Myanmar military seized power in 2021. The call, arranged through Myanmar's embassy in London, provided Aris with the first direct confirmation of his mother's status in nearly six years.

Suu Kyi, 81, informed Aris she has 18 years remaining on her sentence. She was initially sentenced to 33 years in 2021 on corruption and electoral fraud charges, a total that was later reduced. The United States, Western nations, and human rights organizations have widely criticized the charges as fabricated. A spokesperson for the military-backed government, Khaing Khaing Soe, confirmed the call on social media and shared separate photographs of the pair.

Aris, a carpenter based in London, reported that his mother is held at a residence in and around the capital, Naypyidaw. He described the location as fenced off with a scrubby garden, surrounded by police and military personnel. "From what I can ascertain, she's basically being held in solitary confinement even if she's not in a prison cell," Aris said. He believes she has access to books but lacks news via radio, television, or newspapers.

Her health remains a concern for the family. Aris said she "sounded strong" but suffers from tendonitis in her hand, which sometimes renders it unusable. She told him she receives a medical checkup every six months. Aris is preparing to send a care package containing a mix of healthy food and treats, considering Ben's Cookies, a brand from Oxford, England. The city holds personal significance, as it is where she raised her sons with her late husband, British scholar Michael Aris, before moving to Myanmar in 1988.

The call was likely monitored by the military, limiting the topics discussed. Aris avoided sensitive subjects like the ongoing civil war, recalling how the regime previously used photographed parcels sent to his mother as propaganda during her house arrest from 1989 to 2010. He views the call as an image-building tactic for coup leader Min Aung Hlaing, who was installed as president in January and is currently traveling abroad to seek international legitimacy.

The coup triggered a civil war that has killed approximately 100,000 people, according to the monitoring group ACLED. The United Nations reports that millions have been displaced. ACLED states the military has sharply escalated attacks on civilians since Hlaing became president. He remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, including the 2016-2017 killings and expulsions of Rohingya Muslims, which Washington has declared a genocide.

Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the exiled National Unity Government, stated the regime "dare not release" Suu Kyi because her strength would bolster the revolution. Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group called her status "potentially the most valuable card Min Aung Hlaing holds," warning she could become a bargaining chip while airstrikes continue. Horsey said her release is "very unlikely" and would not alone end the war. The U.S. State Department urged the military to hold "genuine dialogue with all opposition groups" and called for her "immediate and unconditional release" in August. Aris said the call may be a one-off and that his mother believes she gives the people of Burma strength by sharing what they are going through.