A “Proof of Life” campaign was launched this week in Japan, South Korea, Australia, the U.K., U.S., and Canada, calling for independent verification that jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi is alive and in good health.
“We, as Burmese citizens living in Japan who love and respect the people’s leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, organized this event to show that we share the sentiment of a son’s simplest wish to be shown proof that his mother is still alive and well. We also want the Japanese government and media to be aware of her current situation,” Thant Zaw Lat, a Myanmar national in Japan, told DVB at the “Proof of Life” rally in Tokyo on April 29.
Min Aung Hlaing, inaugurated as Myanmar’s president by a pro-military parliament on April 10, announced a one-sixth reduction in Aung San Suu Kyi’s prison sentence in an amnesty on April 29.
“This is not a human rights improvement. Reducing her sentence is not freeing her. She remains a hostage. If she is alive, show proof of life,” said Kim Aris, Aung San Suu Kyi’s youngest son, in a press release on April 30.
This marks the second commutation in two weeks for the 80-year-old Suu Kyi, whose original 33-year prison sentence has been reduced to 18 years following multiple amnesties since she was convicted on charges called “politically motivated” in 2022.
Despite claims by Min Aung Hlaing, who told Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow that she is being “well looked after,” her exact whereabouts and health condition remains unknown.
Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021. Charges filed against her ranged from the illegal possession of walkie-talkies to corruption to violating the state secrets law.
Min Aung Hlaing’s regime continues to deny her family members, legal team, and health specialists any access to her in prison.
“Just please allow me to speak to my mother and show that she’s alive one way or another and grant her her basic human rights,” Aris told DVB in an interview on April 20.
“At least move her to house arrest and allow her the care she needs,” he added.
“I am worried that there has been no news about [Aung San Suu Kyi]. At a time when the junta is under international pressure and Kim Aris is making repeated requests, the lack of information makes people fear for her safety,” a supporter who joined the rally online on April 21 told DVB.
The “Proof of Life” campaign was initiated by Kim Aris and civil society groups following the Myanmar New Year amnesty on April 17 after news broke that Aung San Suu Kyi received her second prison sentence reduction from 27 to 22 years.
“There were some rumors going around that she was going to be moved to house arrest or even potentially freed, but none of that seems to have materialized,” Aris told DVB on April 20.
Wednesday’s rally was held in Tokyo, Japan with previous ones this week held in London, U.K. on April 28, Melbourne, Australia, and Ulsan, South Korea, on April 26, as well as Vancouver, Canada on April 25.
The global rallies have included prominent Myanmar pro-democracy artists, including singers Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein and actor Min Maw Kun.
The next rally is expected in the Canadian capital Ottawa to kick off a Burma Advocacy Tour across Canada on May 4. Stay tuned to DVB English News for more information.
