Myanmar insists Suu Kyi ‘healthy’ as son demands proof

Myanmar’s military regime has claimed that detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is “in good health”, despite mounting fears from her family and supporters who have not seen her for more than two years.

The statement, issued via state-run Myanmar Digital News, offered no evidence or details about the 80-year-old’s condition. It came a day after her son, Kim Aris, told Reuters he feared his mother could die in detention without him ever knowing. “The military claims she is in good health, yet they refuse to provide any independent proof, no recent photograph, no medical verification, and no access by family, doctors, or international observers,” he said.

Aris has long voiced concern about his mother’s treatment since her arrest during the 2021 coup that toppled her elected government. He believes she is being held in solitary confinement in Naypyidaw prison, cut off even from other inmates. Suu Kyi is serving a 27-year sentence on charges widely dismissed as politically motivated, including corruption and election fraud.

Rumours about her health have circulated repeatedly, with the military at times suggesting she was under house arrest, had suffered a stroke, or even died. Aris described the constant speculation as “hard to deal with”.

The controversy over Suu Kyi’s condition comes as Myanmar prepares for elections later this month, which analysts and foreign governments have condemned as a sham designed to entrench military rule. Her National League for Democracy party remains dissolved, while several opposition groups are boycotting the polls.

Meanwhile, the regime has announced prosecutions against 229 people accused of “sabotaging” the election process. Rights monitors say the legislation is being used to silence dissent, with arrests reported for actions as minor as posting a “heart” emoji on Facebook. Convictions can carry sentences of up to 10 years, with harsher penalties for damaging ballot papers or intimidating voters.

As fighting continues across Myanmar, Suu Kyi’s fate remains shrouded in secrecy, fuelling calls for transparency and international scrutiny of the regime’s claims.

-2025-12-20