Myanmar says detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi met Red Cross official

Myanmar's government has announced that detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi held a meeting with a representative from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday, amid ongoing concerns over her health and whereabouts. Suu Kyi, who was detained following a military coup in February 2021, has not been seen publicly since then, and no foreign leader or envoy has met her.

Her exact location and health status have been shrouded in mystery, with no foreign representatives having publicly interacted with her. On Monday, Suu Kyi met with Arnaud de Baecque, the Resident Representative of the ICRC in Myanmar, in the capital Naypyitaw. Government spokeswoman Khine Khine Soe shared four photographs of the meeting, including one of Suu Kyi cutting a birthday cake with her name inscribed on it.

However, the authenticity of the photographs and the date they were taken remain unverified. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government, called for the ICRC's confirmation of the meeting and urged for Suu Kyi's unconditional release. Her legal team had previously reported that her sentence of 33 years had been reduced to 18 years.

Despite repeated claims by the military-backed administration that Suu Kyi is in good health, international pressure has grown for her well-being to be verified by independent parties.