Concerns are mounting for the health of Myanmar's ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, after her son revealed she is battling serious dental issues and bouts of dizziness while imprisoned by the country's military regime.
In an exclusive interview, Kim Aris shared that his 78-year-old mother is suffering from severe gum disease but is being denied permission to see an external dentist. Her medical needs are reportedly being treated by a prison doctor, a situation her family finds deeply inadequate.
Isolated and Denied Adequate Care
"She's not well," Aris stated from his home in Hampshire, UK. He detailed that his mother's condition makes it difficult for her to eat solid food. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate is serving a 27-year sentence following a series of politically charged trials after the military seized power in a 2021 coup.
Her isolation is compounded by a near-total communications blackout. Aris has had no direct contact with her and relies on infrequent, heavily filtered updates passed through the diplomatic efforts of a single official from the ASEAN regional bloc.
A Political Prisoner's Deteriorating Condition
The junta's tight control over information means the full extent of Suu Kyi's health problems remains unclear. However, her son's account paints a worrying picture of neglect. The denial of specialist dental care for a woman of her age is a significant cause for alarm among human rights groups and her international supporters.
This news has ignited fresh criticism of the Myanmar regime's treatment of political prisoners and its disregard for basic human rights. Suu Kyi's health has become a focal point for the ongoing struggle for democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.
