Myanmar’s military-backed government has told ASEAN that detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi is in good health and will be properly cared for, following a rare face-to-face meeting between the regional bloc and Myanmar’s foreign minister.
The assurance was revealed by Philippine Foreign Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro, who is also ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar, after foreign ministers from the 11-member bloc met Myanmar Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe on Sunday.
Lazaro said Myanmar’s foreign minister described the 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate as “a relative” and “a sister”, adding that the government would continue to look after her.
“My recollection of his statement was that she is in good health and that she is a relative, a sister, and therefore they will take care of her,” Lazaro told reporters.
The meeting marked the first in-person engagement between ASEAN foreign ministers and Myanmar’s representative since the military coup in 2021, which ousted Suu Kyi’s elected government and plunged the country into a prolonged civil conflict that has reportedly claimed around 100,000 lives.
Suu Kyi has remained in military detention since the coup and is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence, although her sentence was recently reduced by one-third. She faces multiple criminal convictions that her supporters say were politically motivated to prevent her return to politics. Myanmar authorities have not publicly disclosed her exact location.
Myanmar’s military leaders have been barred from attending ASEAN’s top-level summits due to their failure to implement the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus, a peace roadmap agreed upon shortly after the coup.
Despite criticism, Lazaro defended ASEAN’s decision to resume direct engagement with Myanmar, saying dialogue remains essential if progress is to be made on humanitarian access and peace efforts.
“It cannot be achieved overnight. The process is evolving, and these engagements are very important,” she said.
The future of ASEAN’s peace initiative has become increasingly uncertain after Myanmar’s pro-military parliament recently passed a motion describing the Five-Point Consensus as interference in the country’s internal affairs and urged the new civilian-led, military-backed government to reject it.
Nevertheless, Lazaro insisted ASEAN remains committed to the peace framework, describing it as an important platform for encouraging dialogue between the warring sides and improving humanitarian assistance.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said ASEAN members had clearly communicated their expectations to Myanmar and reiterated calls for access to Suu Kyi so the bloc could independently verify claims regarding her health and well-being.
Meanwhile, Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday’s discussions focused on strengthening ties with ASEAN and restoring the country’s full participation within the regional organisation.
However, a coalition of 20 political parties and ethnic minority groups in Myanmar criticised ASEAN for engaging with the military-backed government while it openly rejects the bloc’s peace plan. The groups argued that ASEAN has not done enough to engage with other stakeholders involved in the conflict and questioned the bloc’s decision to expand high-level contact with Myanmar’s current leadership.
