Mizzima-Apr 21
Kim Aris, the youngest son of Myanmar’s imprisoned democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has concluded his powerful eight-city advocacy tour across the United States, capping off a deeply moving journey aimed at rallying global attention and support for Myanmar’s ongoing struggle against military rule, according to a press release dated 20 April. Throughout the tour, Aris met with members of Congress, civil society leaders, international organizations, and more than 5,000 members of the Burmese diaspora and allies in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Fort Wayne, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sedona, and Austin. In addition to raising awareness, the tour helped generate more than $400,000 in contributions. The funds will go toward providing critical aid to those most affected by the recent Sagaing earthquake, as well as supporting organizations working on the frontlines of Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis and ongoing pro-democracy efforts. The tour has been a deeply personal mission—not only to spotlight Myanmar’s worsening humanitarian crisis and call for international action to end military atrocities and free political prisoners, including his mother—but also to express his growing concern for Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains in isolation with no communication or access to proper medical care. “Though I am not a politician, I continue to speak out—for her, for the release of all political prisoners, and for the people of Myanmar. As her son, I can’t stop until the job is done,” Aris said. Aris emphasized the urgent need to free over 20,000 political prisoners unjustly detained by the junta, including his mother, who at age 80 has been held in solitary confinement without due process. “I can’t let my mother languish in prison in silence,” he said. “She deserves dignity. They all do.” He brought attention to the massive scale of suffering in Myanmar: – Over 3.5 million people displaced – 15 million facing food insecurity – 20 million in urgent need of aid “Myanmar is one of the world’s largest humanitarian disasters—yet too many still look away.” Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2025/04/21/21549
