Myanmar’s military-backed government delivered two books sent by King Charles III to former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is in house arrest in Naypyitaw, Monday. The books, "The Land Gardeners: Soil to Table" and "Soil: The World at Our Feet", were handed over by Home Affairs officials in a brief ceremony that lasted about ten minutes.
President Min Aung Hlaing has been seeking to end Myanmar’s international isolation after Suu Kyi’s ouster in 2021. The regime held an election in 2025 and has re‑engaged with regional partners, hoping to project stability and legitimacy.
Charles, who championed environmental protection, met Suu Kyi in London in 2017 when she was Myanmar’s state counselor. The books were selected to reflect his long‑standing interest in sustainable agriculture.
Suu Kyi has not been seen publicly since February 2021. Her son, Kim Aris, welcomed the gesture but warned that the regime should not use it to create an illusion of normality, insisting her human rights remain violated.
The International Committee of the Red Cross visited Suu Kyi in August, her first contact with an outside organization since detention. The visit underscored the continued international pressure for her release.
The delivery is part of the military’s plan to improve its international standing ahead of the 2025 election, a move that may prompt renewed calls for her release from regional actors and human‑rights groups.