Open Letter from Parliamentarians: A Call on ASEAN and Its Member States to Demand the Release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and All Political Prisoners in Myanmar

In support of the Proof of Life and 81 for 81 campaigns, 134 former and current parliamentarians from Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and Timor Leste signed the parliamentary open letter calling on ASEAN and its member states to demand the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who turns 81 today, and all political prisoners held by the Myanmar junta. 

19 June 2026

His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Chair, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2026
President of the Republic of the Philippines

And Their Excellencies,
The Heads of Government of ASEAN Member States

Your Excellencies,

We convey our deepest respect and appreciation for your leadership as ASEAN Chair and for ASEAN’s continued efforts to advance regional peace, democracy, and sustainable resolution to the crisis in Myanmar.

On the occasion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 81st birthday on 19 June 2026, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), together with parliamentarians from Australia, the European Union, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and the United Kingdom, write to you in your capacity as Chair and leaders of ASEAN to formally call for the unconditional and immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners held by Myanmar’s military junta.

This open letter reflects growing international concern and longstanding calls for an inclusive political resolution to the crisis in Myanmar, consistent with ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus and the broader international commitment to democracy, human rights, and accountability.

Across regions, governments and international actors have increasingly converged around a common set of demands: the unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners; independent access to verify her condition and welling; an end to violence against civilians; unhindered humanitarian access; and meaningful political dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders. These are not new demands—they mirror the commitments already undertaken by the Myanmar military under ASEAN’s own Five-Point Consensus.

Since the military coup of 1 February 2021, the junta led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has arrested more than 31,141 individuals on political grounds. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), more than 22,000 remain in detention and reports continue to document mistreatment, abuse, torture, and denial of medical care. More than 7,800 people, including pro-democracy activists and civilians, have been killed. These are verified and documented figures; the actual numbers are likely higher.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has remained in detention since the day of the coup. Following reports of her transfer from prison to house arrest at an undisclosed location in Nayphydaw in April 2026, serious concerns remain regarding her condition, and the lack of independent verification. Her family and legal counsel continue severe restrictions on access, and the international community remains without credible confirmation of her current conditions. In the absence of independent verification and meaningful access, proof of life is urgently needed.

We therefore call on ASEAN, as a regional body bound by its Charter to uphold the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, to take the following concrete steps:

• Formally demand the unconditional and immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners detained by Myanmar’s military authorities;
• Require, as a condition of any further engagement with the junta, that it present Daw Aung San Suu Kyi publicly and grant immediate, unhindered access for her family, legal counsel, and an independent medical team to verify her wellbeing and whereabouts;
• Ensure that any engagement with the military authorities is inclusive and conditions-based in fulfilment of ASEAN’s own commitments under the Five-Point Consensus. Engagement must include all relevant stakeholders, and must not proceed without measurable progress on the release of political prisoners, the cessation of violence, unhindered humanitarian access and meaningful political dialogue aimed at achieving a sustainable resolution to the crisis.

Your Excellencies,

ASEAN has an opportunity to show that regional solidarity means something—that the people of Southeast Asia can count on this institution in their darkest hours. We urge you to seize it.

We thank you for your attention and stand ready to engage further in support of ASEAN’s pursuit of a principled, inclusive, and sustainable resolution to the crisis in Myanmar.

Sincerely,
Current and former parliamentarians from Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and Timor Leste

Signed:

Australia
Hon. Janelle Anne Saffin, Member of Parliament, New South Wales Legislative Assembly

Cambodia
Hon. Mardi Seng, Senator

Indonesia
Hon. Mercy Chriesty Barends, Member of Parliament
Hon. Ruth Naomi Rumkabu, Member of Parliament

Italy
Hon. Laura Boldrini, Member of Parliament
Hon. Lia Quartapelle, Member of Parliament
Hon. Benedetta Scuderi, Member of Parliament

Malaysia
Hon. Maria Chin Abdullah, Former Member of Parliament
Hon. Kasthuri Patto, Former Member of Parliament
Hon. Syerleena Rashid, Member of Parliament
Hon. Saifuddin Abdullah, Member of Parliament
Hon. Charles Santiago, Former Member of Parliament
Hon. Lee Chean Chung, Member of Parliament
Hon. Willie Anak Mongin, Member of Parliament
Hon. Wong Chen, Member of Parliament
Hon. Kelvin Yii, Member of Parliament

Myanmar
Hon. Ahmar Kyi, Member of Parliament
Hon. Aung Kyi Nyunt, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Aye Aye Mar, Member of Parliament
Hon. Aye Mya Mya Myo, Member of Parliament
Hon. Aye Sandar Kyaw, Member of Parliament
Hon. Cho Cho Win, Member of Parliament (Ayeyarwady)
Hon. Cho Cho Win, Member of Parliament (Sagaing)
Hon. Dau Naw, Member of Parliament
Hon. Ei Ei Khaing, Member of Parliament
Hon. Ei Ei Pyone, Member of Parliament
Hon. Hla Hla Win, Member of Parliament
Hon. Hnin Khaing Soe, Member of Parliament
Hon. Kaythi Zar Hlaine, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khaing Khaing Win, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khaing Mar Htay, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khin Aye Yee, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khin Hnin Htwe, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khin Hnin Yee, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khin Ma Gyi, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khin Moe Wah, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khin San Myint, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khin Soe Soe Kyi, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khin Swe Lwin, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khin Wai Wai, Member of Parliament
Hon. Khin Win, Member of Parliament
Hon. Kyi Kyi Ohn, Member of Parliament
Hon. Kyaw Zay Yar Soe, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Lai Lai Win, Member of Parliament
Hon. Latt Latt Moe Aung, Member of Parliament
Hon. Mary Ngoh, Member of Parliament
Hon. May Oo Naing, Member of Parliament
Hon. May Thu Phyo, Member of Parliament
Hon. Moe Moe Thu, Member of Parliament
Hon. Mya Hla San, Member of Parliament
Hon. Mya Khwarnyo Oo, Member of Parliament
Hon. Mya Myo Aye, Member of Parliament
Hon. Myat Mar Lar Tun, Member of Parliament
Hon. Myat Thida Tun, Member of Parliament
Hon. Myint Thein, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Nan Than Than Lwin, Member of Parliament
Hon. Nang Thuzar Win, Member of Parliament
Hon. Nay Myo Htet, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Ni Ni Aung, Member of Parliament
Hon. Ni Ni Dun, Member of Parliament
Hon. Nilar Lwin, Member of Parliament
Hon. Nu Nu Htwe, Member of Parliament
Hon. Nwe Nwe Win, Member of Parliament
Hon. Nyo Nyo Oo, Member of Parliament
Hon. Oakkar Min, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Ohn Kyi, Member of Parliament
Hon. Ohnmar Htike, Member of Parliament
Hon. Pa Pa Han, Member of Parliament
Hon. Phyu Phyu Lwin, Member of Parliament
Hon. Phyu Phyu Tin, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Phyu Phyu Win, Member of Parliament
Hon. Phyu Sin Ei, Member of Parliament
Hon. Ral Peng Thang, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Sai Pan Pha, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Saw Saw, Member of Parliament
Hon. Saw Than Htut, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Sein Myint, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Shwe Pon, Member of Parliament
Hon. Si Si Thet, Member of Parliament
Hon. Soe Pa Pa Hlaing, Member of Parliament
Hon. Su Su Aung, Member of Parliament
Hon. Susana Hla Hla Soe, Former Member of Parliament
Hon. Thadar Aye, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thadar Moe, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thanda, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thant Wai Kyaw, Member of Parliament
Hon. Theint Nandar Aye, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thet Mon Aye, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thet Thet Mu, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thidar Win, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Thida Nyein, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thida Win, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thin Thin Kyu, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thin Thin Swe, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thiri Thwin, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thiri Yadanar, Member of Parliament
Hon. Thit Thit Myint, Member of Parliament
Hon. Tin Htay, Member of Parliament
Hon. Tin Tin Oo, Member of Parliament
Hon. U Tang Sei, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. U Thein Tan, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. U Tint Lwin, Member of Parliament
Hon. U Soe Thiha, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Wai Mar Lwin, Member of Parliament
Hon. Win Myat Aye, Member of Parliament, NUG
Hon. Win Pa Pa Myint, Member of Parliament
Hon. Win Shwe, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Yee Yee Htike, Member of Parliament
Hon. Yee Yee Min, Member of Parliament
Hon. Yee Yee Mya, Member of Parliament
Hon. Yee Yee Win, Member of Parliament
Hon. Yi Yi Htun, Member of Parliament
Hon. Yin Yin Aung, Member of Parliament
Hon. Yin Yin Mya, Member of Parliament
Hon. Yin Yin Myint, Member of Parliament
Hon. Yinmin Hlaing, Member of Parliament
Hon. Yu Yu War, Member of Parliament
Hon. Zar Chi Myint, Member of Parliament
Hon. Ze Hkawng, Member of Parliament, CRPH
Hon. Zin Moe Htike, Member of Parliament
Hon. Zin Ni Ni Win, Member of Parliament

Philippines
Hon. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, Member of Parliament
Hon. Leila de Lima, Member of Parliament
Hon. Emmi de Jesus, Former Member of Parliament

Singapore
Hon. Braema Mathiaparanam, Former Member of Parliament

South Africa
Hon. Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, Member of Parliament

Thailand
Hon. Bhuntin Noumjerm, Member of Parliament
Hon. Chaiwat Sathawornwichit, Member of Parliament
Hon. Chamnan Chanruang, Member of Parliament
Hon. Chonlathan Supphaiboonlerd, Member of Parliament
Hon. Kannavee Suebsang, Member of Parliament
Hon. Kasit Piromya, Former Member of Parliament
Hon. Klaikong Vaidhyakarn, Member of Parliament

Timor-Leste
Hon. Abel de Silva, Member of Parliament