Family of Myanmar’s detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi make appeal after earthquake

The Warminster family of Aung San Suu Kyi, the former leader of Myanmar, have called on people to donate to aid charities following the devastating earthquake in the country, which has claimed thousands of lives.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the former leader of Myanmar, previously known as Burma, is currently imprisoned following a military coup in 2021. Warminster resident Lucinda Phillips’ brother, Michael Aris, was married to the politician until his death from cancer in 1999.

Lucinda and her husband Adrian are deeply concerned about the fate of the people of Myanmar and uncertain about Aung San Suu Kyi’s safety. They say it would mean “so much” for people to support emergency response efforts.

The powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on 28th March causing devastation in Mandalay, Sagaing and the Shan State with tremors being felt as far as Bangkok in Thailand.

Thousands have died and hundreds of people are still missing, while others have no access to shelter, clean water or food.

Devastating

Lucinda said, “We found out about the earthquake on the news and followed every update minute by minute. There was very little information initially, but we knew that the epicentre was at Sagaing, to the west of Mandalay. We’ve since learned that a third of Mandalay has been destroyed. It is devastating.

“It would mean so much to us for people to donate to help everyone there. We know people are short of money, but any small amount will help.”

Lucinda’s sister-in-law Aung San Suu Kyi is thought to be in solitary confinement in Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw, which is more than 200km from the epicentre of the earthquake. Despite the great distance, roads have been ripped up and buildings damaged in Nay Pyi Taw.

No information

Adrian said, “We think she is being held in some sort of military base but we have had no verified information whatsoever. There was one letter two years ago and that’s the only communication that anyone in her family has had in four years. The [military] junta has issued a statement to say she is unharmed but we have no idea what kind of condition she is in.”

“The not knowing is very hard, especially for her children,” added Lucinda.

Aung San Suu Kyi travelled from England to her native Burma in 1988 to care for her terminally ill mother, just before a military coup took place.

The daughter of Bogyoke Aung San, a revolutionary who was instrumental in Myanmar’s struggle for independence from British rule, Aung San Suu Kyi was soon drawn into political life herself and became leader of the National League for Democracy Party (NLD) calling for peaceful democratic reform.

She was placed under house arrest by the military in 1989 and the NLD won the election but was refused the handing over of government. In 1991, while still imprisoned, Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. After six years, she was released from house arrest, but was held again in 2000. After two years she was released again but she was imprisoned once more in 2021 following a coup d’état that sparked protests across the country.

Lucinda and Adrian, who spoke to the Warminster Journal from their home at Teddington House, worry about the situation in Myanmar daily. They have dozens of books about Aung San Suu Kyi – who they refer to as Suu – as well as photos of her and her husband Michael around their home. One of their favourite possessions is a painting of pagodas by Lake Inle in Myanmar by Warminster artist Hilary Jackson. That area is now a scene of devastation following the earthquake.

Lucinda says the support from the Warminster community means a lot to her family.

She said, “After the earthquake, I had messages from people to reach out and ask if Suu was safe. The people of Warminster know about us and our situation, that’s why we have put a poster in our window calling for her freedom.

“We also have a little corner of photos to remember both my brother Michael and Suu. Adrian and I also looked after their children when Suu was first imprisoned in 1989.

“When she was briefly released, she visited the UK and spent time with us here which was so lovely. We would drive her around Warminster in an old Bentley which she enjoyed and had several Christmases together in the past.”

In between her periods of imprisonment, Aung San Suu Kyi came under fire following her comments about Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority and her refusal to condemn the country’s military for attacks against them in 2017. Violence had forced thousands of Rohingya to flee their homes and take dangerous routes through jungles and over sea to reach safety in nearby Bangladesh. The United Nations previously described the Rohingya as “the most persecuted minority in the world.”

Responding to this, Adrian said, “It’s not clear to this day who was responsible for attacking the Rohingyas. What Suu said to us was ‘If I’d spoken out as people wanted me to – it would have been a total bloodbath.’ She had no control over the actions of the military, over the home office. She had control over education and schools, health and international affairs.”

Adrian and Lucinda do not know if they will ever see Aung San Suu Kyi again. Their nephew, Kim Aris, is currently raising money for the release of his mother who will be 80 years old on 19th June.

Adrian said, “Will we see her again? Who knows. The regime is losing, bit by bit. Whether they will collapse or not, we do not know. But they only now control somewhere in the region of a quarter to a third of the country. All the rest is controlled by the opposition, but the trouble with the opposition is that it is very fragmented. But, we live in hope.”

You can donate to support aid relief efforts in Myanmar here https://www.gofundme.com/f/earthquake-myanmar-aid