Myanmar releases rare photos of Aung San Suu Kyi after delivery of King Charles books and letter

Myanmar’s military-backed government on Monday, 19 October, released rare photographs of the country’s imprisoned former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and said officials had delivered her books and letters from Britain’s King Charles, Reuters reported.

What was delivered

According to a social media post from Myanmar’s presidential spokesperson, government officials delivered two books — “The Land Gardeners: Soil to Table” and “Soil: The World at Our Feet” — along with a sealed envelope and a diplomatic communication sent by King Charles. The delivery marks rare foreign contact with Suu Kyi, whose whereabouts and health have been hard to confirm since the 2021 coup. No foreign leader or envoy has publicly met her despite requests.

Detention since the 2021 coup

Suu Kyi, 81, has been detained since February 2021, when the military ousted her elected administration and arrested civilian leaders. She is serving an 18-year prison sentence at a designated residence for offences including incitement, corruption, election fraud and violating a state secrets law — charges she denies. In April this year she was moved to house arrest after an election held under military rule that installed coup leader Min Aung Hlaing as president.

Earlier Red Cross visit

In August she met a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross, after years of questions about her health. That visit was her first confirmed outside contact for years. Monday’s photographs and the reported delivery of the king’s message are a further public glimpse of her conditions under house arrest. Reuters noted that foreign governments and rights groups have long pressed for her release as one condition for ending Myanmar’s diplomatic isolation.