Myanmar’s military authorities have allowed former civilian leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to meet with a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), marking her first confirmed appearance in years as concerns over her health continue to mount.
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‎The military government also released an undated photograph showing Suu Kyi shaking hands with an ICRC official, a move widely seen as an attempt to reassure the public following increasing calls for proof that she is alive and well.
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‎Anxiety over the former leader’s condition intensified earlier this year after her son, Kim Aris, publicly appealed for evidence of her wellbeing, citing fears that her health had worsened while in detention.
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‎Confirming the visit, the ICRC said its representative met with Suu Kyi as part of its humanitarian mandate. The organisation explained that detention visits allow detainees to communicate with their families, while any observations made during such visits are shared privately with the relevant authorities.
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‎Suu Kyi has remained in military custody since the armed forces overthrew her elected government in the 2021 coup. Since then, she has been kept away from public view in what critics say is an effort to weaken her political influence and public support.
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‎Following a series of closed-door court proceedings, the former leader was handed a combined 27-year prison sentence after being convicted on multiple charges, including corruption, breaching COVID-19 regulations and incitement against the military.