Myanmar government releases rare Suu Kyi photos, reports delivery from King Charles

Naypyidaw, Myanmar. Myanmar’s military-backed government published rarely seen photographs of detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday, saying officials had brought her books and letters from Britain’s King Charles.

Books and correspondence delivered

Myanmar’s presidential spokesperson said in a social media post that officials delivered two books, “The Land Gardeners: Soil to Table” and “Soil: The World at Our Feet”, together with an envelope that was sealed and a diplomatic message from King Charles.

The delivery represents an unusual instance of overseas contact with Suu Kyi. Since the coup in 2021, reliable information about her location and health has been scarce. Despite requests, no overseas leader or envoy has met her publicly.

Detention and house arrest

Suu Kyi, now 81 and a Nobel laureate, has remained in detention since February 2021. The military overthrew her government that month and detained civilian leaders during raids carried out early in the morning.

She was transferred to house arrest in April this year after an election conducted under military rule brought coup leader Min Aung Hlaing to the presidency.

A representative from the International Committee of the Red Cross met her in August, after years of uncertainty about her health and wellbeing.

Suu Kyi is serving a prison term of 18 years at a designated residence. The offences include incitement, corruption, election fraud and breaches of a state secrets law. She denies every offence.