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COMMENTARY
Suu Kyi's Long Road to Naypyidaw
By AUNG ZAW Monday, August 22, 2011


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The broad smile on her face translated as more than just an indication that she was pleased to be there. Moreover, the “VVIP” reception she received and the queue of powerful ministers, tycoons and economists that lined up to speak to her spoke volumes.

It is clear—even to her opponents—that Aung San Suu Kyi is not an “ordinary civilian,” which was the term Burma's Vice-president Tin Aung Myint Oo had used to describe her to US Senator John McCain in June.

Suu Kyi’s first face-to-face meeting with President Thein Sein at the presidential palace is welcome news. There is no doubt that her high-profile attendance at a government workshop in Naypyidaw last week is highly significant.

Aung Zaw is founder and editor of the Irrawaddy magazine. He can be reached at [email protected].

She and the president reportedly enjoyed a cordial conversation, though no details of the meeting were released by either camp. It has also been learned that Thein Sein and his wife hosted Suu Kyi for dinner at the presidential palace.

Burmese state broadcasts on Friday evening and state newspapers on Saturday reported Suu Kyi’s meeting with Thein Sein, and showed pictures and footage of the two sat for reporters beneath a picture of Suu Kyi’s father, Gen Aung San, Burma’s independence hero and founder of the Burmese armed forces.

Was there a subliminal message here? Suu Kyi's bold and upright appearance in the photograph appeared as if she were visiting the president on behalf of her father. “What have you done to Burma?” could have been the caption.

State mouthpiece The New Light of Myanmar reported the meeting from a different angle: “The president and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi tried to find out the potential common grounds to cooperate in interests [sic] of the nation and the people putting aside different views.”

The news report did not explore further what “potential common grounds” were discussed.

But whatever the rhetoric, the apparent progress is certainly heartening.

We were told that Suu Kyi was pleasantly surprised when the government's liaison, Labour Minister Aung Kyi, invited her to a second round of meetings earlier this month.

NLD sources immediately noted that Aung Kyi no longer played the role of messenger. He appeared to be in a position to negotiate, and had apparently softened his stance and presented the opposition leader some concessions. Sources said that these included the release of some political prisoners and the invitation to Naypyidaw to meet Thein Sein.

Informed sources have suggested that at the core of Aung Kyi's brinkmanship was the fact that the government wants Suu Kyi’s endorsement when it approaches the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance. Recently, it was reported that the new Burmese government was seeking IMF help to reform its complex foreign exchange system.

At the same time, The Lady herself built up her political muscles after dissidents and exiled Burmese had whispered into her ear the need for her to step up and be more pragmatic at the negotiating table.

Since then, both her and her NLD aides have appeared much more savvy—Suu Kyi's charisma metamorphosing into a cool gravitas—and much less likely to be bullied at recent talks.

At the second meeting between Aung Kyi and Suu Kyi, they made real progress. Without it, Suu Kyi would not have gone to Naypyidaw.

Win Tin, a staunch critic of the regime who spent 19 years in prison, followed in spirit by softening his tone, saying that he believes dialogue between government and the opposition party leader is a real possibility.

While in Naypyidaw, Suu Kyi met several important players—though notably not Snr-Gen Than Shwe— including government cronies, influential businessmen, presidential advisers, and several powerful ministers who were reportedly pleased to meet her.

Observers are naturally questioning why the government has apparently had a change of heart? Even the cynics, the doubters and the overly cautious among us see reason to feel upbeat.

But this is not the first time Suu Kyi has received privileged treatment from her captors. The year before her convoys were ambushed and dozens were killed in Depayin in May 2003, she and top NLD aides were taken to rural areas on an inspection tour of the government’s “nation-building” projects.



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COMMENTS (7)
 
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Garrett Wrote:
30/08/2011
I think the regime pundits are doing a great job of moving throughout the various forums posing as democracy advocates spouting pipe-dream visions of approaching democracy through peaceful means, peaceloving Burmese people, blah blah blah. Meanwhile the same Burma army shock-troops are raping ethnic minority women, burning villages & crops, & making sure there is no peace in the ethnic homelands. The regime continues building dams which will adversely effect not only ethnic minority farmers, but farmers throughout the land. Land is still confiscated for pipelines & railways which keep the stolen resources flowing out of the country, & agro-projects which usually replace ricefields with non-edible cash crops.

If I am punching someone in the face and I want to become peaceful, the first thing I need to do is to stop being violent.

Moe Aung Wrote:
24/08/2011
Like the author rightly pointed out we've been there before. The sense of déjà vu is overwhelming (remember Khin Nyunt, 'moderate' and 'power sharing'?, and many of us will agree with Roland Watson that the puppet master is pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

How far ASSK will get drawn into their game we shall wait and see. What kind of quid pro quo they expect of each other. The generals don't expect to lose and they are always one step ahead of the game since they plan and plot, plan B and the lot. Has the Lady any plan B? Will she end up wasting time in futile maneuvers and just get older yet again?

myo nyunt Wrote:
24/08/2011
Dear Ko Aung Zaw

There is hope to all freedom and peace loving Burmese that a common ground for the Myanmar State and the defacto opposition led by Daw Aung San Su Kyi is in process. The majority of the population in Burma at the present juncture of history and socio- cultural evolution are mindful that only through a negotiated political solution amongst themselves ,national progress and prosperity will be truly of their own making, and not by determination by others. Myanmar is still in the making. The present transparent interactive communication between NLD General Secretary Daw Aung San Su Kyi and the President of Myanmar U Thein Sein I believe is based on trust and reciprocal mutual respect, and a plus for the majority of the Burmese people.
Democracy is us, the Burmese people. We will get there by our through peaceful means and deliberation and accepting and respecting the other as our equal.

George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote:
24/08/2011
For the first time in a generation, the reformers within the government may have the upper hand.

I certainly DON'T BUY this crap mate!

Tin Aung Myint Oo, Min Aung Hlaing, Shwe Mann even are not in the picture lest you forget!

They gave Daw Suu the VVIP treatment, allowed Quintana another tour while inviting us back to Burma for ONE OBVIOUS REASON only.

No need to name it as well I guess.

What happened now and would in the near future as well would SERVE NONE for that matter - RELEASE of Min Ko Naing and his colleagues, U Khun Htun Oo, Su Su Nway and other 2000 political prisoners, withdrawal of USDP forces out of ethnic lands and hold a meaningful dialogue for democratic reforms in the country.

Until and unless it is done Daw Suu NEED NOT TAKE even a STEP toward that hell hole I say.

Kyaikkasan Wrote:
24/08/2011
No idea how many times Daw Su had been offered dinner in the past. But we do know after the show the Regime reaped bumper harvest of credits while Opposition was left as it is. Now, TSein repeated the same technique. How long does Opposition can be stranded with this kind of show as there are generals ready to repeat.

DS may not wish to stop as credit-contributor this time. Presumably, she might raise mainly (1) release of P-Prisoners, (2) modify of constitution, (3) national reconciliation, and (4) legal winner of 90 Election.

At least, assumption (2) listed above hit the nerve of army-backed gov. TS countered it even without consider, by saying he had tried to convince those who did not agree with it. Meaning, they won’t change the 25% and others by which they survive.

Similarly, they are drafting for killing other proposals, because they don’t want to share the power. TS gov hold identical policy as SPDC, What is the Plan B of NLD? How confidence it to be applied.

Myint Thein, Dallas Wrote:
24/08/2011
After 23 years, we don't need more dialogue. We need a deal. And if we don't secure a negotiated political settlement within the next six months, we will lobby the US Government to provide weapons to the Ethnic Resistance Armies in Burma. Talk is cheap, watch what we do.

Roland Watson Wrote:
23/08/2011
Ko Aung Zaw,

You are wrong about this. There is no real progress. There is no convincing reason to feel optimistic or upbeat. Indeed, to call anyone who does not swallow the lies that come from Naypyidaw a "cynic" is pejorative. If you want to believe in fairy tales, that's fine, but please do not criticize those who refuse to fall into the trap. What is happening now with the regime is carefully orchestrated political theatre. Thein Sein and Aung Gyi are puppets, nothing more. Thein Sein was chosen for the part of PM and then President because he is so weak and placid, to give a soft face to the world. But Than Shwe will throw him and Aung Gyi in prison without hesitation the moment they cease to be useful. Just recall the fate of the SPDC's Foreign Minister Win Aung.

Roland Watson

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bullet With Suu Kyi On Board, Is Burma Finally Moving Toward Real Change?

bullet The ‘Rule of Law’ in Burma

bullet New Doors are Opening in Burma

bullet A Good Beginning to the New Year






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