Son hears mother's voice after six years of silence

For the first time in nearly half a decade, a family separated by political upheaval has reconnected. Kim Aris, a 49-year-old carpenter living in London, spoke by phone with his mother, former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on Thursday. The conversation lasted 20 minutes and marked their first direct exchange since the military seized power in 2021.

Aris said his mother’s first words were a concern for his physical well-being. He shared the family’s affection and asked about her condition. "My mother is actually alive and well," Aris stated. "Hearing her voice has reassured me." The 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate has faced a string of legal battles following the coup. Initial charges of corruption and electoral fraud resulted in a 33-year sentence, a length that Western nations and human rights organizations have widely criticized as manufactured. That term was later cut, leaving her with 18 years remaining.

According to a spokesperson for the military-backed government, the call was facilitated through the Myanmar Embassy in London. Aris learned from the conversation that his mother is kept in a residence near the capital, Naypyidaw. He believes the site is surrounded by security forces and features a fenced yard with a sparse garden. "From what I can ascertain, she's basically being held in solitary confinement even if she's not in a prison cell," he explained. While she can read, Aris does not believe she has access to current news via radio, television, or print media.

Health concerns have weighed heavily on the family for years. Although she sounded strong, Aris said she suffers from severe tendonitis in her hand that sometimes renders it unusable. She receives medical checkups every six months. Aris is preparing to send her a package containing a mix of nutritious items and sweets, potentially including cookies from an Oxford-based brand. He noted that the military likely monitored the call, so they avoided discussing the ongoing civil war. He views the contact as an effort by the regime to boost its image as leader Min Aung Hlaing travels abroad.

The conflict that began with the coup has claimed roughly 100,000 lives, according to monitoring group ACLED, while the United Nations reports that millions have been displaced. ACLED states that attacks on civilians have intensified since Hlaing took office, even as regional powers engage diplomatically. Hlaing remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights violations, including the 2016 and 2017 actions against the Rohingya Muslims, which Washington has labeled a genocide. Suu Kyi’s global reputation took a hit in 2019 when she defended her country before the International Court of Justice, though she remains a favorite among many at home.

Officials from the exiled government and international analysts suggest the regime hesitates to free her because her influence could bolster the revolution. One expert described her as a valuable negotiating asset for Hlaing, warning that her release is unlikely to end the war on its own. The U.S. State Department has expressed continued concern for those it deems unjustly detained and has urged the military to engage in genuine dialogue with opposition groups. Aris suspects this call may be a one-time event, noting that his mother believes her endurance gives the Burmese people strength.