Myanmar’s foreign minister has assured Southeast Asian counterparts that detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi is in good health and “will be looked after”, describing her as “a sister”. The remarks came during the first in‑person meeting between ASEAN and Myanmar’s top diplomat since the 2021 coup.

Philippine foreign minister Maria Theresa Lazaro, who has pressed for access to the 81‑year‑old Nobel laureate, relayed the comments at a press conference. “My recollection of the statement is that she’s in good health and that the premise was ‘she is a relative, she’s a sister and therefore we will take care of her’,” Lazaro said.

Suu Kyi remains in detention, serving a 27‑year sentence on charges her allies insist were fabricated to bar her from politics. Her sentence was recently reduced by a third, but her exact whereabouts remain unclear.

The meeting in Vientiane brought together foreign ministers from the 11‑member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, who have struggled to advance a peace plan agreed with Myanmar’s generals. The “five‑point consensus” has made little progress, and Myanmar’s leadership has been excluded from top‑level ASEAN summits for failing to implement it.

Lazaro defended the decision to engage with Myanmar’s foreign minister Tin Maung Swe, saying humanitarian access was beginning to improve. “It can’t be done in one stroke. It’s evolving and I think all of these engagements are very important,” she said.

Thailand’s foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow added that ASEAN colleagues had “clearly spelled out our expectations” and called for direct access to Suu Kyi to verify claims about her health.

Myanmar’s foreign ministry said the talks focused on restoring “full and equal participation” in ASEAN. But critics warned the bloc was risking credibility by meeting a government that has openly rejected its peace framework. A joint statement from 20 political and ethnic minority groups said it was “difficult to reconcile” deeper engagement with a party that had repudiated ASEAN’s own plan.

Despite the doubts, Lazaro insisted the consensus remains the bloc’s guiding framework. “They reject it or not, I stand pat and I think ASEAN stands behind the five‑point consensus,” she said.

-2026-07-13

She hasn't been seen for so long that it is a pity ASEAN didn't demand proof of life. When a criminal gang says is will "take care of her" my concern increases.

Doesn't she have family in London? Best go there, the Junta is not going to "care for her".

3 hours ago, Priorexpat said:

the Junta is not going to "care for her".

Junta wants control as its "caring."

Unless and until someone credible from outside gets access to her, it would be foolish to believe a word they say.