Concerned son worries about the wellbeing of Suu Kyi, detained by Myanmar military regime
Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former leader of Myanmar, is currently serving a 27-year sentence and facing worsening health issues while in military custody.
Born in 1945 to Myanmar's independence hero, Gen Aung San, who was assassinated when she was an infant, Aung San Suu Kyi rose to prominence as a pro-democracy leader. She founded the National League for Democracy (NLD) in 1988, during her protests against the military government in Myanmar, and became its general secretary shortly after the 1988 uprisings.
Aung San Suu Kyi returned to Myanmar in 1988 to care for her ailing mother and joined nationwide protests against military rule. She spent nearly two decades in detention, including some 15 years under house arrest at her colonial-style family's home on Yangon's Inya Lake.
In 1972, Aung San Suu Kyi married British scholar Michael Aris and had two sons with him. The couple's relationship was long-distance, with Aung San Suu Kyi remaining in Myanmar while Aris lived in Oxford, England. Tragically, Aris passed away in 1999 from prostate cancer.
Aung San Suu Kyi's party won a landslide in an election that the military claims was marred by widespread fraud, but election monitors found no evidence of cheating. However, Western governments have criticized the upcoming vote as a move to entrench the generals' power. Anti-junta groups, including Suu Kyi's party, are either boycotting or are barred from running in the new elections, with only military-backed and approved parties participating.
Recently, Aung San Suu Kyi's health has been a concern. She has been experiencing heart problems, bone issues, and gum problems. According to her son, Kim Aris, she requested to see a cardiologist about a month ago, but it is unknown if her request was granted. Kim Aris has expressed concern about his mother's condition, stating it is impossible to know her current heart status without proper medical examinations.
The military-backed interim government has not responded to requests for comment regarding Aung San Suu Kyi's condition. Myanmar has been experiencing violence since the 2021 military takeover, with ongoing protests and clashes between the military and civilian resistance groups.
Aung San Suu Kyi's struggle for democracy in Myanmar continues, and her health remains a pressing concern for her supporters both within and outside the country.
