Aung San Suu Kyi tells son she is in solitary confinement

Kim Aris spoke by phone with his mother, former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on Thursday. The 20-minute call marked the first direct conversation between them since the military coup in 2021. Aris, a 49-year-old carpenter based in London, described the exchange to reporters. He said he felt reassured after hearing her voice.

Suu Kyi, 81, currently has 18 years left on her sentence. The military initially sentenced her to 33 years in 2021 and 2022 on corruption and electoral fraud charges. The U.S. and other Western nations have called the charges fabricated. Khaing Khaing Soe, a spokesperson for the military-backed president, confirmed the call was arranged through Myanmar's Embassy in London. He shared separate photographs of Aris and Suu Kyi on social media.

Aris learned that his mother is held at a residence near the capital, Naypyidaw. He believes police and military personnel surround the building. He described the property as fenced off with a scrubby garden. "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 does not believe she has access to news via radio, television, or newspapers. She can read books.

The former leader reported health issues during the call. Aris said she is in considerable pain from tendonitis in her hand. At times, she cannot use the affected hand. She told her son she receives a health checkup every six months. Aris plans to send a care package containing a mix of healthy food and treats. He is considering Ben's Cookies, a brand founded in Oxford, England. That is where Suu Kyi raised her sons with her late husband, Michael Aris, before moving to Myanmar in 1988.

Aris believes the military monitored the conversation. Sensitive topics, including the ongoing civil war, were off limits. He compared the situation to his mother's house arrest in Yangon from 1989 to 2010. During that period, the regime photographed parcels sent to her for propaganda. He views the call as an effort to improve the military's image. Min Aung Hlaing, the coup leader, was installed as president in January after a military-engineered election. He is traveling abroad seeking legitimacy. Aris warned that governments around the world should not be taken in by the display.

The coup triggered a civil war that has killed about 100,000 people, according to the monitoring group ACLED. The U.N. says millions have been displaced. ACLED reports that the military has sharply escalated attacks on civilians since Hlaing became president. Regional governments are stepping up diplomatic engagement despite these attacks. Hlaing remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, including the 2016-2017 killings of Rohingya Muslims. The U.S. declared those events a genocide. Suu Kyi's international standing suffered in 2019 when she defended Myanmar at the International Court of Justice, though she remains beloved by many inside the country.

Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the exiled National Unity Government, said the regime dare not release Suu Kyi. He argued her strength would combine with the revolution. Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group called her status the most valuable card Hlaing holds. He warned she could become a bargaining chip while airstrikes continue. He said her release is very unlikely and would not end the war alone. The U.S. State Department said it remains concerned about unjustly detained individuals. It urged the military to hold genuine dialogue with all opposition groups. In August, the State Department called for Suu Kyi's immediate and unconditional release. Aris said the call may be a one-off. He said his mother believes she gives people strength by sharing what they are going through.