Members of the Myanmar diaspora in the United Kingdom have announced plans to stage a 24-hour hunger strike outside the military regime’s embassy in London.
The demonstration, scheduled for June 18, aims to demand the release of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi ahead of her 81st birthday.
The hunger strike is set to begin at 3:00 p.m. on June 18 and will conclude on June 19 at the same time, marking her birthday.
Organizers confirmed that shelters and drinking water will be provided for all participants outside the embassy, though the total number of expected demonstrators has not yet been disclosed.
Raising global awareness
“The aim is to make the international community more aware of the people’s wishes and concerns. We want them to know how worried we are [about Aung San Suu Kyi],” a Myanmar citizen living in the U.K. who plans to join the strike told DVB on the condition of anonymity.
“Through this movement, we will also send letters demanding action from governments [around the world].”
The protest is organized in coordination with the global “Proof of Life” campaign. The campaign was launched in the U.K. in April by Aung San Suu Kyi’s son, Kim Aris, following a series of highly opaque legal developments surrounding his mother’s imprisonment.
The mystery of her whereabouts
Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested during the military coup on February 1, 2021, facing a litany of charges ranging from the illegal possession of walkie-talkies to corruption and violating the state secrets law.
While her original prison sentence totaled 33 years, three partial pardons since 2023 have reduced her remaining term to 18 years.
Following the most recent sentence reduction on April 30, the junta claimed that the 80-year-old National League for Democracy (NLD) leader had been moved from her cell in Naypyidaw Prison to an undisclosed house arrest location.
However, the military regime in Naypyidaw and its new pro-military administration led by regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, who was inaugurated president on April 10, has failed to provide any verifiable evidence or images confirming the transfer.
The regime has continuously denied Aung San Suu Kyi’s family, legal team, and independent medical specialists any form of access to her for over three years, fueling deep concerns over her health and safety.
Renewed international pressure
The upcoming protest in London coincides with a fresh wave of international diplomatic pressure targeting the regime in Naypyidaw:
- Global Powers: Earlier this month, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and Japan issued joint renewed calls for the immediate, unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Myanmar.
- ASEAN Mobilization: The Philippines, which holds the 2026 chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has officially requested that Myanmar grant its ASEAN Special Envoy on Burma, Ma. Theresa Lazaro, direct access to the detained State Counsellor.
