BRI Applauds Senator Risch’s Call for the Military Junta to Release State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Urges Him to Press the Trump Administration to Do More
ELLICOTT CITY, Maryland State, USA —The Burma Research Institute (BRI) today applauded Senator James Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for calling on Burma’s military regime to immediately and unconditionally release State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, recipient of the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal.
On August 3, 2026, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Myanmar released a statement confirming that its representative met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at her place of detention, an undisclosed location in Naypyidaw. Responding to that news the same day, Senator Risch said:
“Reports that Aung San Suu Kyi met with the Myanmar representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross are welcome, but not enough. The military junta must allow family contact, provide information about her health, and immediately and unconditionally release her.”
BRI commends Senator Risch for calling Burma’s ruling regime — led by Min Aung Hlaing — “the military junta,” underscoring the illegitimacy of his rule after he appointed himself president of Burma (Myanmar) following sham elections.
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (81) was sentenced to a combined 33 years after the 2021 coup, later reduced to 27 years, and remains in detention.
“We are grateful to Chairman Risch for his continued leadership on Burma. I hope the Chairman will urge the Trump administration to do more in its efforts for the immediate and unconditional release of prisoners, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Christian pastors,” said Zo Tum Hmung, President and CEO of BRI.
Additional Sources/Background
- February 5, 2021: Days after Min Aung Hlaing’s military overthrew the democratically elected government led by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Senators Jim Risch (RIdaho), then-ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the East Asia Subcommittee; Bob Menendez (DN.J.), then-Committee chairman; and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — then a senator, now U.S. Secretary of State — jointly urged the Biden Administration to take key steps. Their letter to then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for pressure on the military junta to release political prisoners. Full statement: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/rep/release/senators-risch-markey-menendez-rubio-outline-key-steps-for-biden-administration-to-help-preserve-burmas-transition-to-democracy
- On November 25, 2025: Risch, Shaheen, Mast, and Meeks, Call on Trump Administration to Speak Out Against Sham Elections in Burma. https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/rep/release/risch-shaheen-mast-and-meeks-call-on-trump-administration-to-speak-out-against-sham-elections-in-burma
- January 27, 2026: BRI released its report, Burma: Severe Violations of Religious Freedom Against Christians, with the support of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Senator Grassley, Senator James Lankford (R-OK), and former USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler delivered remarks at the release. Report: https://burmari.org/2026/02/01/burma-researchinstitute-releases-new-report-documenting-severe-violations-of-religious-freedomagainst-christians-in-burma/
- March 23, 2026: Christian leaders, organizations, interfaith groups, and individuals wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging immediate action to protect Christians in Burma from the Burmese military’s escalating and severe persecution, and calling for pressure on the military junta to release prisoners, including Christian pastors and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Letter: https://burmari.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Letter-toSecretary-Rubio-March-23-2026.pdf
- May 6, 2026: BRI received an encouraging response from a senior official on behalf of Secretary Rubio, stating that the Department would review BRI’s recommendations. Response: https://burmari.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/State-Department-Response-–-March-23-2026-Letter.pdf
- As of today: BRI has received no further update from the State Department regarding efforts to secure the release of prisoners detained for their faith, or the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The military junta continues to attack civilians and religious sites, including Christian churches. https://burmari.org/2026/05/19/burmese-military-burnshistoric-catholic-church-compound-in-karenni-state-bri-urges-trump-administration-todetermine-crimes-against-humanity-and-war-crimes
The Burma Research Institute (BRI), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Ellicott City, Maryland, in the United States. It conducts research and advocacy primarily focused on freedom of religion or belief in Burma, and advocates for human rights and protection and assistance for refugees and internally displaced persons from Burma. BRI also empowers the local Chin community in Maryland and across the United States to successfully integrate into American society. (www.burmari.org).