The son of Aung San Suu Kyi, a prominent pro-democracy activist, has expressed grave concerns for her health while she remains imprisoned in Myanmar. Reports indicate that Suu Kyi, who has been detained since a military coup in 2021, is suffering from a serious heart condition and is being held in solitary confinement.

Kim Aris, Suu Kyi's son, stated that he fears for her life. "I've heard that her heart condition is getting worse. It's reported that she was saying that the pain was getting worse and that her blood pressure had dropped," he told a news outlet. He added, "She's 80 years old. She's locked up in some hellhole in Burma. I'm worried she might die any day if she's not dead already."

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has not been seen publicly since May 2021, when she attended a court hearing. Since then, her whereabouts have been largely unknown. She is currently serving a 27-year sentence on charges that include incitement, corruption, and election fraud, all of which she denies. Aris mentioned that he has had no communication with his mother since receiving a single letter over two years ago. "I've sent care packages and letters, but I received no response because the military don't allow any response to come back to me," he said.

The military government of Myanmar has previously dismissed reports regarding Suu Kyi's health as false.

Concerns for her well-being come amid ongoing violence in Myanmar, where a civil war has escalated since the military seized power. The conflict has resulted in over 52,700 deaths, including nearly 10,000 civilians, according to a conflict monitoring group.

As Myanmar prepares for elections in December, experts have raised doubts about the legitimacy of the process. Many believe the elections will be manipulated to create the illusion of a democratic transition while maintaining military control. Nicholas Coppel, a former Australian ambassador to Myanmar, stated, "It has all the hallmarks of being a manipulated and orchestrated event … to give the appearance of a democratic transition. But at the end of the day, the same people will be in charge. You can rest assured about that."

Despite her imprisonment, Suu Kyi retains significant support within Myanmar. However, Coppel noted that achieving genuine democracy may require more than peaceful protests. "I think the people of Myanmar have decided that it's going to require the military to be overthrown, and they can't be relied upon for a peaceful transition to a genuinely democratic country," he said.