France renews call for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release; Myanmar Navy compounds civilian suffering

French President renews call for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release

Kim Aris, the youngest son of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, shared a letter, via social media, on Thursday from French President Emmanuel Macron reiterating a call he first made on Oct. 1, 2025 for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Aris has had no direct contact with his mother since she was detained during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021.

France supports the request of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2026 Chair, the Philippines, for ASEAN Special Envoy to Burma Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, adding that he “raised this issue” with the Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during a meeting in Paris on May 25. The regime in Naypyidaw publicly rejected the meeting request at a press conference on June 30.

Macron wrote in his undated letter that he expressed France’s support for the extension of E.U. sanctions against the regime in Naypyidaw by one year, until May 2027, which include asset freezes, travel bans and ​an arms embargo for 105 individuals and 22 ​entities. Aris launched a “Proof of Life” campaign in April, which has led to global demands for the regime to provide independent verification that his mother is alive.