Myanmar Detainee Aung San Suu Kyi Reports Hand Pain in Rare Call

Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is held in solitary confinement and has 18 years remaining on her prison sentence, her son confirmed following a rare phone call.

Kim Aris, a 49-year-old carpenter residing in London, spoke with his 81-year-old mother on Thursday. The 20-minute conversation marked their first direct contact since the military coup in 2021. Aris stated that Suu Kyi asked about his health first and that hearing her voice provided reassurance to the family.

Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. The military sentenced her in 2021, and subsequent trials extended her total time to 33 years on corruption and electoral fraud charges. The sentence was later reduced. Khaing Khaing Soe, a spokesperson for Myanmar's military-backed president, announced on social media that the call was arranged through the country's London embassy.

Aris said his mother is held at a residence near the capital, Naypyidaw. He believes police and military personnel surround the fenced-off building, which includes a small garden where she can spend time. He described the conditions as solitary confinement despite the lack of a prison cell. Suu Kyi can read books but reportedly lacks access to radio, television, or newspapers.

The family has long worried about her health. Aris said she sounded strong but suffers from tendonitis in her hand, which 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, potentially including Ben's Cookies, a brand from Oxford where she raised her children before moving to Myanmar in 1988.

Aris believes the military monitored the call and restricted sensitive topics such as the civil war. He views the call as an effort to improve the military's image while leader Min Aung Hlaing travels abroad. Hlaing was installed as president after a military-engineered election in January. 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. The U.S. State Department urged the military to hold genuine dialogue with opposition groups and called for Suu Kyi's immediate release in August.

Nay Phone Latt, spokesperson for the exiled National Unity Government, said the regime fears releasing Suu Kyi because her strength would combine with the revolution. Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group described her status as a valuable bargaining chip for Hlaing. He said her release is unlikely and would not end the war on its own. Aris said the call may be a one-off event and that his mother believes sharing her experience gives the people of Burma strength.