Naypyidaw (HRNW)- Myanmar’s deposed leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has met representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the first time in nearly four years, with the Myanmar military government releasing photographs of the meeting.
According to the World News Agency, the 81-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi appeared calm and in seemingly good health in the photographs, easing some of the long-standing concerns about her well-being.
Myanmar’s military government confirmed that Aung San Suu Kyi met an ICRC delegation led by the organization’s representative in Myanmar, Arnaud de Baecque.
The meeting is considered significant because it is the first confirmed contact Aung San Suu Kyi has had with an individual or organization outside the government since she sent a letter to her son in February 2024.
Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested in February 2021 after Myanmar’s military overthrew her elected government and seized power.
She was later sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison in multiple cases that the international community and human rights organizations have described as politically motivated. Her sentence was later reduced, and she was recently transferred from prison to house arrest.
Although Myanmar’s military government has repeatedly stated that Aung San Suu Kyi is alive and in good health, little independently verified information about her condition had emerged in recent years.
Her son, Kim Aris, has campaigned internationally for information about his mother’s welfare and had urged the military authorities to provide credible proof that she was alive.
Reacting to the newly released photographs, Kim Aris said they appeared authentic and that his mother seemed to be in good health. He told the BBC that while the military government had previously released misleading information, he believes the latest images appear credible.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a brief statement that the meeting took place in accordance with its standard procedures and that its delegation was also able to speak privately with Aung San Suu Kyi. However, the organization did not disclose details of her health or the topics discussed during the meeting.
Myanmar remains under military rule led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Although elections have been held, political power continues to remain in the hands of the military.
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