During his visit to the United States, Ko Thein Lwin, son of Aung San Suu Kyi, has renewed his call for the release of his mother and all political prisoners. Concluding his tour of eight U.S. cities on April 20, Ko Thein Lwin advocated for the liberation of Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners, while also seeking humanitarian assistance for Myanmar civilians suffering from both conflict and natural disasters. Throughout his journey, he engaged in discussions with various stakeholders to address these pressing concerns.
Currently, 80-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi remains in detention without adequate medical care and is kept in isolation with no external communication. Ko Thein Lwin expressed deep concern for his mother and over 20,000 political prisoners who have been unjustly detained by the military. He emphasized that his mother deserves to be treated with dignity, stating, ‘I don’t want my mother to suffer silently in prison. She deserves to be treated with dignity, as do all political prisoners.’ Despite not being a politician himself, he has committed to continuing his advocacy until successful results are achieved, viewing his efforts as both a son’s duty and a humanitarian obligation.
During his U.S. tour, Ko Thein Lwin called on the United States and its allies to implement stronger sanctions against military leaders and their associates, pressure countries supplying weapons to the military regime, support cross-border humanitarian aid corridors, and protect independent media and civil society organizations. He highlighted that Myanmar has become one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, yet remains largely overlooked by much of the international community. His advocacy focused on the urgent need for international intervention to address the deteriorating situation in Myanmar.
Throughout his American tour, Ko Thein Lwin met with U.S. congressional representatives, civil society leaders, international organizations, Myanmar communities in America, and over 5,000 democracy supporters. The tour successfully raised over $400,000 in funds, which will be allocated to provide crucial assistance to those most severely affected by the Sagaing earthquake and to support organizations leading Myanmar’s humanitarian response and democratic efforts. This funding represents a significant step toward addressing immediate humanitarian needs while supporting longer-term democratic initiatives in the country.
