LONDON — Kim Aris, the youngest son of Myanmar’s detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, has launched a blistering critique of the military junta’s latest attempts to legitimize its rule, accusing General Min Aung Hlaing of acting out of a profound fear of his mother’s popularity and the democratic will of the people.
The statement, released via his social media platform, comes after the junta-controlled assembly reportedly designated Min Aung Hlaing as “Vice President,” a move widely seen as part of a carefully scripted transition intended to project a veneer of civilian governance.
“Min Aung Hlaing and his generals stole power from the people of Myanmar,” Aris wrote. “They are deeply afraid. They fear the will of the people, they fear my mother, Aung San Suu Kyi, and they fear the legitimate landslide victory of her party. This is why they staged the coup and continue to try to hide the truth from the world.”
Aris, also known by his Burmese name Ko Htein Lin, argued that the military’s recent political maneuvering is a fraudulent attempt to re-establish a civilian government in name only, while the military maintains absolute control.
Addressing the international community, Aris urged world leaders to reject any diplomatic recognition of the junta. “Do not legitimize this brutal dictator and his accomplices,” he pleaded. “Hold Min Aung Hlaing and his group accountable for the crimes they have committed—the daily killings of innocent civilians and children that continue to this day. This must end.”
The status and health of the 80-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate remain a subject of international concern. Since being ousted in February 2021, Ms. Suu Kyi has been largely cut off from the outside world, held in isolation while facing a series of politically motivated charges.
“I urge Min Aung Hlaing: show immediate proof that my mother and all political prisoners are still alive and well,” Aris demanded.
His remarks underscore the ongoing tension between the sham government’s efforts to hold a managed election and the reality of a country gripped by an expanding civil war. Critics and human rights monitors have labeled the junta’s proposed political roadmap as a “sham,” noting that thousands of opposition members remain behind bars and the country remains under a state of emergency.
As the military continues its campaign against resistance forces, Aris’s message serves as a stark reminder of the humanitarian stakes involved, framing the junta’s latest administrative shifts not as democratic progress, but as a “fraudulent” attempt to escape international justice.
