In a concerning revelation, Myanmar's former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is reportedly facing health challenges while incarcerated, with authorities denying her medical care outside the prison system. The 78-year-old ousted leader is grappling with symptoms of low blood pressure, which include dizziness and a loss of appetite. A medical worker, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed these details to AP News.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Suu Kyi is also suffering from severe toothaches, which have rendered her unable to eat, as reported by the BBC. These toothaches are attributed to a painful gum disease. Kim Aris, Suu Kyi's son, expressed his deep concern over his mother's deteriorating health. He highlighted that the military authorities have rejected a plea from prison officials for her to receive "urgent care." Aris, who resides in the U.K., described the denial of medical care to a sick prisoner as both "callous and cruel."
Aris further elaborated on the severity of his mother's condition, noting that she is battling chronic gum disease, which has progressively worsened. The inability to eat due to the pain, he emphasized, puts her life in imminent danger. He expressed his anguish over not having been in contact with his mother for over two years, feeling a sense of powerlessness over her predicament.
The backdrop to this health crisis is the military coup in 2021, which saw Myanmar come under the rule of a military junta. The military seized control in February 2021, sidelining Suu Kyi shortly after her party, the National League for Democracy, secured a resounding victory in the November 2020 elections. Following the coup, Suu Kyi, along with other top members of her government and party, were detained. She faced a series of criminal charges, leading to an initial sentence of 33 years in prison. These charges, which encompass corruption, incitement, and electoral fraud, are widely perceived by supporters and activists as contrived, intended to suppress her influence and validate the military's aggressive takeover. Her sentence was subsequently reduced by six years last month.
Aris opined that the reduction in his mother's sentence was merely a ploy by the regime to enhance its international image. He fervently appealed to the military to release his mother or, at the very least, permit her to be treated by her doctor. He concluded by urging the global community to not overlook the military's documented brutality against Myanmar's citizens.
