Myanmar military claims Aung San Suu Kyi is cared for like a relative, ASEAN Chair and Thai Foreign Minister demand direct meeting

YANGON, July 12 The State Counsellor, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under arrest, is in good health and is being cared for like a relative, the military-appointed Foreign Minister, Than Swe, told ASEAN foreign ministers. This was in response to questions about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's current situation during an informal meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and the military-appointed Foreign Minister held in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 12. Maria Theresa Lazaro, ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar and Philippine Foreign Minister, said at a press conference that according to the military-appointed Foreign Minister's statement, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is in good health and will be cared for with the consideration of a relative, an elder sister. "As far as I recall what the Myanmar Foreign Minister said about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, she is in good health. He said something like, 'She is like a relative, like an elder sister, so we will take care of her,'" Lazaro said. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, 81, has been detained since the military coup in 2021, and her exact whereabouts are currently unknown. Lazaro had previously stated that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had been moved to a "designated location," but did not disclose the exact location. Lazaro has requested a personal meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, but it is understood that the military junta has not yet granted permission for such a meeting. Don Pramudwinai, the Thai Foreign Minister, also said that questions were asked to Than Swe about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's current situation during the informal meeting today. "It would be better if the ASEAN Special Envoy could be allowed to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Only after such a meeting can we confirm the points made by the Foreign Minister," the Thai Foreign Minister said. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to 27 years in prison on charges including incitement, corruption, election fraud, and violation of the State Secrets Act, and recently had one-third of her sentence reduced, according to Reuters. Following the military coup in 2021, the military junta has been barred from attending high-level ASEAN meetings due to its failure to implement the five ASEAN consensus points. It is understood that the informal meeting held in Bangkok today was the first in-person meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and the military-appointed Foreign Minister since the military coup.