The Warminster relatives of detained Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi are supporting a campaign calling on the country’s military rulers to prove she is still alive.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the former leader of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has been detained since the military coup in 2021 and has not been heard from by her family for three years. Supporters are now demanding ‘proof of life’ after claims she was moved from prison to house arrest earlier this year.
The politician, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, will celebrate her 81st birthday on 19th June, her fifth birthday in detention.
Warminster resident Lucinda Phillips’ brother, Michael Aris, was married to the politician until his death in 1999.
Lucinda and her husband Adrian are supporting the ‘81 for 81’ Proof of Life Challenge, which encourages people around the world to complete activities linked to the number 81 while raising money for humanitarian aid in Myanmar.
Adrian has pledged to walk 81km around Warminster over 10 days.
“It is ominous that the junta has still not produced her, to prove that she is indeed still alive,” he said.
As part of the campaign, Aung San Suu Kyi’s son, Kim Aris, will skateboard 81km in a single day to mark his mother’s 81st birthday.
Kim said, “In Burmese tradition, people give gifts on their birthdays. Because my mother is unable to do this, I am honouring her 81st birthday – and her vision of a peaceful, free Burma – by skating 81km to raise urgent humanitarian aid for her people.”
Lucinda is also encouraging 81 people around the world to take part in the challenge.
To support the appeal, visit https://gofund.me/999c73bec.
