World News

Myanmar's Suu Kyi allowed first phone call with son in over five years

A Myanmar government spokesperson confirmed the 20-minute call; her son says she is well but in pain.

Updated Oct 23, 2026 · 10:14 UTC2 reports

The short version

Detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed a 20-minute phone call with her son, Kim Aris, their first direct conversation in over five years.[NPR · Associated Press]
A government spokesperson confirmed the call, which Aris held through the Myanmar Embassy in London.[NPR · Associated Press]
Aris says his mother is alive and well but in pain from tendonitis, and he believes the military monitored the call.[NPR]
Suu Kyi remains under house arrest on an 18-year sentence; reporting does not say whether further contact will be permitted.[NPR · Associated Press]

Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed a 20-minute telephone call with her son, Kim Aris, their first direct conversation in more than five years.[NPR · Associated Press]
Myanmar government spokesperson Khaing Khaing Soe confirmed that the call took place through the Myanmar Embassy in London.[NPR · Associated Press]
Suu Kyi is serving an 18-year sentence under house arrest after an earlier total of 33 years was reduced, on charges her supporters and rights groups call politically motivated.[NPR · Associated Press]
Aris said his mother is alive and well but in pain from tendonitis in her hand.[NPR]

Kim Aris believes the military monitored the 20-minute call; the reporting does not establish whether it was monitored.[NPR]
Aris's account of his mother's health is his own; the reporting includes no independent confirmation of it.[NPR]
The reasons for permitting the call, and whether further contact will be allowed, are not established in the reporting.[NPR · Associated Press]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.