Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been very busy in the two months since she was released from house arrest on Nov. 13. In addition to giving numerous interviews to international media outlets, she has met with HIV/AIDS patients, the families of political prisoners, NGO workers, visiting diplomats, UN officials and Burmese economists and youth leaders.
Despite this flurry of activity, however, many wonder how much she will be able to achieve, and indeed, how much longer she will remain free to speak to the outside world.
Aung Zaw is founder and editor of the Irrawaddy magazine. He can be reached at [email protected].
For the time being, Suu Kyi is making the most of her freedom. She has told colleagues that she is enjoying this new opportunity to reconnect with people and rebuild networks, but isn't taking it for granted. She knows that she could be detained again at any time. She feels, however, that she is learning how to co-exist with Burma's ruling generals.
Indeed, many observers have noted that Suu Kyi has been more cautious than in the past. She has repeatedly extended olive branches to the generals, who continue to ignore her as if she were, in their eyes, just another convicted criminal. This has led some to question whether Suu Kyi's recent efforts to reach out to the junta—and especially her offer to reconsider her position on sanctions—are actually too conciliatory.
On the subject of sanctions, Suu Kyi recently told Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper that she first raised the issue with the generals more than a year ago, long before her release.
“I said that I was prepared to work together with them to remove sanctions that were hurtful to the people at large. … If sanctions are truly hurting the people, then we must review the situation because we do not want the people to be hurt unnecessarily,” she said.
While some have expressed concern about this apparent softening of Suu Kyi's support for sanctions, others have noted that she seems to have matured over the years. They even say that at 65, she has become more like the statesman that her father was in his early 30s, before he and his cabinet were gunned down in 1947.
For dissidents who want to maintain tough sanctions and hold the generals accountable for human rights violations and repression of the civilian population, however, Suu Kyi is probably not enough like her father, who boldly resisted both the British and the Japanese in his struggle for Burmese independence.
Some also criticize her repeated calls for dialogue, which many see as pointless because of the irreconcilable ideological differences between the junta leaders and the democratic opposition. They say that she should honestly admit that dialogue is impossible because neither she nor the generals are willing to alter their fundamental positions.
However, Suu Kyi herself clearly understands that dialogue, if it ever comes, will involve compromise.
“If one believes in dialogue, one has to believe in compromise as well. If you are not prepared to compromise, then it is no use saying that you want dialogue, because it cannot become a genuine dialogue,” she told the Asahi Shimbun.
Meanwhile, the regime is preparing to convene Burma's first Parliament in 22 years. The opening session will take place 85 days after the Nov.7 election, in which the junta’s proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, claimed to win 76 percent of the seats.
As the regime attempts to establish the trappings of a normal government, one thing is clear: Suu Kyi won't be a part of it. There are even fears that once the new government is firmly in place, she could face the same that she has many times in the past. She need only cross the invisible line and she will be placed back under house arrest—if she's lucky. If not, she could be sent to Insein Prison, where special accommodations have been built especially for her. Even worse, she could come under physical attack again, as she was at Depayin in 2003.
In the meantime, Suu Kyi will continue building networks and nurturing a new generation of young leaders who can carry on the struggle for democracy. To this end, she will also need to extend her own freedom, even as she does her best to avoid being locked up again.
The generals have been silent, but that doesn't mean they haven't been watching every move she has made since her release or listened to every word.
The future looks so bleak. There are more bigger problems than the regime, and they are our ignorance of our own histories and others' histories and aspirations, which a Burmese author considers a major challenge in achieving national reconciliation, and a complete lack of liberal democratic culture/mentality. In fact, a lack of liberal democratic culture gave rise to the BSPP regime, the predecessor of the current regime, which most of us tend to forget. So sad!
simon Wrote:
20/01/2011
with the release of 'their mother Suu Kyi the Burmese people have some hope of freedom but nothing will happen unless the Burmese rise up together and fight an internal war until freedom is won. Suu Kyi has said that nothing will be done until the people come together with one focus and I believe she is telling her people to revolt. Maybe more needs to be done to unify the burmese and I do believe that when the time is right-they will rise up. That is what it is going to take. The election served only to solidify the junta's power. Blood is the only way to overthrow such an oppressive regime.
sam deedes Wrote:
18/01/2011
I hate to say it but the generals must be laughing all the way to the bank at these offers of an olive branch from Aung San Suu Kyi. Negotiations and compromise presuppose a relative equality of strength between the parties. I just don't see this in Burma, even after the elections.
First we have the continuing practice of using humans as minesweepers and then we hear of the generals' plans to introduce conscription to the armed forces.
How will they enforce this among the ethnic groups? It seems to me the generals have not changed their spots at all. The only thing that will rattle them is an unrelenting drive to bring them to the international criminal courts for human rights abuses.
yujindesu Wrote:
18/01/2011
"understand the role of the armed forces".....I am not sure I want to understand too much about shooting unarmed civilians and monks. Nor the extraction of burma's natural resources for the benefit of a few elite people at the cost of the populace health and education. Call me ignorant.
Myanmar Patriots Wrote:
18/01/2011
Steve Thomas Wrote:
"I have been saying for years, that it is the blocking of peoples voices, both in Burma and overseas, that has allowed foreign manipulation of Burma’s pro-democracy movement, thus preventing any real advancement in their favour." ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!Congratulations.
Here is a secret, revealed.
From 1988, so-called democracy activists in UK had attempted to assassinate the good character of our king HM King Schwebomin II because HM wanted to be neutral and objective. There were hundred of lewd messages on karen.org website.
These Burmese low lifers - one made a living cleaning toilets in France before coming to London - were unbelievably uncouth; others were so jealous. Then they started fighting one another.
They tried to gag HM and HM went away. Latest attempt was to brand HM a 'socialite'; we know who are involved.
The low life Burmese also colluded with the so-called Monarchist League.
Study the origin of the film 'PINK PANTHER',YOU WILL GET THE PICTURE.
Worms will be out!
George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote:
18/01/2011
So-called Myo Chit,
I am racist as your name suggests of course.
Yes, I am a Burmese because I was born in Rangoon and bred in Burma.
The crux of the matter in Burma today is because of guys like Than Shwe beholding himself as absolute ruler of Burma and the likes of Sai Lang Kham saying "I beg your pardon! Bogyoke Aung San, far from resisting the Japanese, fought alongside them" without knowing history and obsessed with blind racism and hate of Burmans as well no doubt.
Nevertheless, I owed him no grudge as he is only an ethnic brethren with very limited knowledge of Burma's history much less politics for that matter as well.
As for you, we Burmans did not break the Panglong Agreement.
Saw Ba Oo Gyi led KNDO's were 7 miles from Rangoon City Hall in the wake of the independence to take over Burma without waiting until 1958 to talk things over as agreed I say.
This treacherous act of the ethnic brethren sowed the seeds and Than Shwe is reaping the harvest today if you don't know yet.
Steve Thomas Wrote:
17/01/2011
Aung Zaw’s interpretation of events, has done more good than perhaps he imagined, in that, it has brought about a broad cross section of opinions, all of which reveal strong passions. Though only eight placed comments, each I am sure, represents a section of Burma society, something the western media prefer to ignore.
The Irrawaddy should take this opportunity, and open up if you like, a book of worms, as we say, allowing for the otherwise ignored opinions and make available a forum, where they can be publicly aired. At the end of a set period, maybe three months of amassing different opinions, a dialogue could take place, perhaps via a conference call such as Skype, and broadcastlive over the internet?
I have been saying for years, that it is the blocking of peoples voices, both in Burma and overseas, that has allowed foreign manipulation of Burma’s pro-democracy movement, thus preventing any real advancement in their favour.
EKA Wrote:
16/01/2011
I think its important to understand that Aung Zaw's article might be written maybe 6 month too early in order to judge the actions and speeches of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi so far. The reality she meets now has changed greatly since she was imprisoned 15 years ago. Not only has her party split up - but the outside world has - in many ways - changed there stands on the Burma "issue". Geopolitics seems to be ever more important. It is a matter of intelligence and watching a very clever lady finding her future approach by first watching and listen to her countrymen before she issue bold statements. Let us have this debate in 6 or 12 months time where Suu Kyi is on pace with the overall situation - and let us judge at that time - not now, she needs time!
Free Man Wrote:
15/01/2011
DASSK said in an interview that it is important that we listen to each other, especially when we are in a position of power.
To rebuild our country, we need each other. So, let's treat each other with mutual respect and recognition.
There are two books that I would like to recommend to help us understand ourselves and our situation better, and they are "Burma: Insurgency and the Politics of Ethnicity" by Martin Smith and " Living Silence in Burma: Surviving under Military Rule" (2nd ed.) by Christian Fink.
Garrett Wrote:
15/01/2011
Wow!
Tocharian, I agree with everything you wrote in this post, well done!
Daw Suu will be taking her time, making good decisions, & choosing her words carefully in order to inspire the Burmese people to find Freedom From Fear.
I am surprised that British socialite Shwebomin, aka "Myanmar Patriots", didn't remind us that he is a distant relative of Bogyoke Aung San. But of course we all know how difficult it is for *Shwebomin to remember all of his back stories.
*http://powervsmoralauthority.blogspot.com
And how odd for Shwebomin to write that Daw Suu has no right to claim the fame of her late father, Aung San Suu Kyi is ten times as famous around the World as her late father.
Shwebomin is most famous as forum trolls "Myanmar Patriots", & "Myanmar Patriot UMPF", though there are a few who recognize him as the British whacko who describes himself as "Shwebomin II, Crown Prince of Burma", on the royal pretender party circuit, probably always good for a free drink or two. Pfffft.
myo chit Wrote:
15/01/2011
George Heine, my fellow Maha Bhama racist, thanks for talking down to a tribesman that lives in the edges of our great nation.
About Panglong - yes we broke it first. We, Bamas, signed it when we could not afford not to sign it. We broke it when we had the upper hand and could afford to do so. That's the dog eat dog world of politics.
Khurtai Kornkhaw Wrote:
15/01/2011
No doubt, apart from being General Aung San’s daughter, ASSK is also blessed with charisma and intellectual capability to lead movement of the second joint-independence movement for all the ethnic groups of Burma from the oppressive military junta.
But how she likes to go about, without being check-mated again like in the past, is altogether another question.
Let us just hope that there will be an opening anytime soon, which will then lead to the dismantling of this reign of terror we are in for almost five decades.
The people of Burma deserves more than this.
Soe Thane Wrote:
14/01/2011
It's time to ask ourselves if Aung San's contribution was overrated. What if he hadn't been around? What if we didn't get independence in 1948? We would have stayed a British colony for another 10-15 years. Basically, we would have become like Malaysia and Singapore. Would that be so bad?
Myanmar Patriots Wrote:
14/01/2011
We love and revere our Bogyoke AungSan for his integrity. But he had faults:1. He was a communist - not his fault;it was a backlash against colonialism and many ex-colonies resorted to it because they got confused between and free market and colonialism: 2. he signed Panglong in good faith not realising the potential for disintegration of Burma, once a unitary kingodm where all ethnic brethresn had lived peacefull for thousands for years under monarchy.
Traitor suuKyi is totally devoid of intellect and understanding of Burmese history despite her degree.
Besides she did nothing for Burmese people until she was 43, yes 43! IMAGINE.
She cannot fool us. You can fool some people all the time, all people some times, but NOT all people all times. REMEMBER THAT.
She has no right to claim the fame of her late father. She is a traitor as she marreied a man of the country that assassinated her father. Check out the TV programme "Who killed AungSan".
Any Panglongist today is a traitor!
George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote:
14/01/2011
Sai Lang Kham:
Yes, Gen. Aung San fought alongside the Japanese and kicked the British out and then booted out the fascist Japanese as well for lying to him and his people if you don't remember or get it right.
Listening to their tales of woes and narrow minded outbursts would not help Daw Suu in her struggle for restoration of liberty and democracy in Burma.
Who started the ethnic insurgency in Burma in the first place?
Who broke the Panglong Agreement as well?
Fighting for more than half a century and getting nowhere until today evidenced the fact ethnic people COULD NOT DO IT ALONE, right?
Burmese opposition alliances headed by Daw Suu down to ABSDF never signed a ceasefire with Than Shwe for that matter lest Sai Lang Kham forgets.
And without the Burmese led by Daw Suu also NONE could help the ethnic minorities fighting for their legitimate aspirations and rights least of all.
Hence they can call it a day only with the help of the Burmese led by Daw Suu as evidenced today I say!
tocharian Wrote:
14/01/2011
The symbol of the NLD is the fighting peacock (khut daung), as tattooed on the arm of Kim Aris. Daw Suu Kyi and NLD has to show a stronger political fighting spirit. Otherwise NLD runs the danger of becoming a pure "charity oganisation", much like an NGO and Daw Suu Kyi might just become the "Mother Theresa of Burma". I don't even like people calling her "amay su", since that diminishes her political role. To be a celebrity is not the same as being a successful politician.
By the way, Daw Suu Kyi and Bogyoke Aung San are two different human beings living in different periods of history. They shouldn't be compared. As I always argued, people in Burma should stop this name-dropping and hero-worshiping kind of nepotism (quanxi in Chinese?), if they want to change their oligarchical (and corrupt) society. There is no hope if there is no change in Burma. As Daw Suu Kyi said, if you want change you have to do it. As Sarah Palin said: "Don't retreat, reload"!
Free Man Wrote:
14/01/2011
Hum..making reconciliation and peace with someone is not at easy task after you have been deceived, abused and persecuted by the same person. And it is harder to do so when one has to compromise with one's counterpart at the expense of the truth. I wish some sort of supernatural beings fell from the sky or popped up from the ground and dealt with the matter in a just manner.
Free Man Wrote:
13/01/2011
"...like her father, who boldly resisted both the British and the Japanese in his struggle for Burmese independence..."
The historical truth is Gen. Aung San did fight alongside the Facist Japanses, and then fought against them. At first, he brought the Japnases and fought alongside the Japanese against the British to liberate the land now called Burma because he bought the Japanese idea of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. However, he later realized that he/the BIA was cheated, which we learnt at high school. In fact, one of his comrades also confirmed the fact in the documentary titled "Who Killed Aung San?". (Please, also see this: http://www.burmalibrary.org/reg.burma/archives/199710/msg00089.html, and other academics' critique of the documentary.)
Sai Lang Kham Wrote:
13/01/2011
"like her father, who boldly resisted both the British and the Japanese in his struggle for Burmese independence"
I beg your pardon! Bogyoke Aung San, far from resisting the Japanese, fought alongside them.
Furthermore, Daw Suu Kyi would benefit from listening to the ethnic minorities and learning about their legitimate aspirations rather than reading 'books written by former army officers who fought against ...... the ethnic insurgents from the 1950s to the 1980s'. After all, it was her father who signed at Panglong.
phyo Wrote:
13/01/2011
Instead of shadow-written self-congratulatory biographies, why not recommend a copy of the qu'ran, which will allow the Burmese to see the Burmese generals as 'infidels' to the words of Gotama the Buddha?
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