Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has had the opportunity to speak directly with her son after five years of complete isolation. On Thursday, her son, Kim Aris, confirmed that he was finally able to speak with his mother.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been held under strict detention since the military junta overthrew her democratically elected government in February 2021. For the past several years, the 81-year-old Aris could only receive news about his mother through third-party intermediaries.
In a statement released after their conversation, Aris said, "The feeling of being able to hear my mother's voice again is beyond description."
A spokesperson for Myanmar's military-backed President, Min Aung Hlaing, stated on social media that Aris spoke with Suu Kyi via telephone facilitated through the Myanmar Embassy in London. Alongside the announcement, two separate photographs of the mother and son were also published.
Suu Kyi is currently serving an 18-year prison sentence following convictions on various charges, including incitement, corruption, election fraud, and violations of the Official Secrets Act, all of which she has consistently denied.
