Guwahati: As Daw Aung San Suu Kyi marked her 81st birthday in detention somewhere in military-controlled Myanmar on June 19, 2026, various international bodies renewed calls for her release along with thousands of other political prisoners lodged in jails across the Southeast Asian nation. Despite strict military surveillance, anti-junta supporters across Myanmar observed her birthday at different locations, wishing good health to the pro-democracy icon.
Lawmakers from several countries urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member states to secure the unconditional release of Suu Kyi and other political detainees. The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), together with 134 current and former parliamentarians from Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Timor-Leste and the Philippines, stressed the need to uphold democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Myanmar.
In an open letter addressed to ASEAN Chair for 2026 and Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the lawmakers called for independent access to verify the condition and well-being of Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, who also chairs the National League for Democracy (NLD). They further urged an end to violence against civilians, unhindered humanitarian access, and meaningful political dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders.
“Since the military coup of February 1, 2021, the junta led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, now serving as President of Myanmar, has arrested more than 31,141 individuals on political grounds. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), over 22,000 remain in detention, while reports continue to document mistreatment, abuse, torture, and denial of medical care. More than 7,800 people, including pro-democracy activists and civilians, have been killed. These are verified and documented figures, and the actual numbers are likely higher,” the letter stated.
Suu Kyi has remained in detention since the coup. Although reports emerged that she was transferred from prison to house arrest at an undisclosed location in Naypyidaw in April 2026, concerns persist over her condition and the absence of independent verification. Her family and legal counsel continue to face severe restrictions on access, leaving the international community without credible confirmation of her current circumstances. The letter noted that, in the absence of independent verification and meaningful access, proof of life is urgently needed.
The AAPP also called for the immediate release of Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners. The association noted that Suu Kyi has spent around 20 years in detention or under house arrest since 1989 because of her political activities and commitment to democracy in Myanmar. It urged ASEAN member states, governments, United Nations bodies, and domestic actors to demand her immediate and unconditional release. Recently, her son, Kim Aris, a British citizen, launched an international campaign seeking confirmation that she is alive and receiving necessary medical care.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Special Envoy on Myanmar reiterated calls for Suu Kyi’s urgent release, saying the issue has repeatedly been raised with Naypyidaw without success. “There have been no independently verifiable reports regarding the former State Counsellor, who was re-elected in the November 2020 national election but subjected to harsh and punitive detention following the military takeover,” said Julie Bishop. The National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar also demanded her immediate release.
The European Union and the embassies of Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Norway and the Netherlands likewise called for the release of Suu Kyi and all others unjustly detained by the military regime. They also urged the authorities to allow her access to independent medical care, family members and legal counsel.