Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of the National League for Democracy. She has been the international face of resistance to the military regime in Burma.There are many who see her as a Nelson Mandela like figure fighting for social justice. Critics view her as a British and US supported instigator working on behalf of their geopolitical agenda. It was in 1990 that the NDL won control, but the military refused to hand over power. The NDL has now won elections and there has not been a violent reaction. If one were to argue from a legal basis, Suu Kyi has technically been ruler since the military refusal to hand over power. It was a legitimate government that was removed by extralegal means. She has been under house arrest numerous times. Upon her release and now the return of the National League for Democracy she told supporters to be cautious. It is not clear what the future holds for Myanmar, but for now it appears Suu Kyi will be a part of it. The question remains is she fighting for the Asian nation or the interest of Western countries.
Aung San Suu Kyi's background makes it seem as if it was inevitable that she would become involved in politics, She is the daughter of Aung San the leader of the national independence movement. She was only two years old when her father was assassinated in 1947. Her mother was the ambassador to India and Suu Kyi spent time in that country. Suu Kyi attended Oxford University in 1964 studying philosophy, politics, and economics. During this period she met her husband Micheal Aris. He was a British historian who studied Bhutanese and Tibetan history. Suu Kyi spent most of the 1970s and early 1980s out of Myanmar. Suu Kyi was based between Japan and Bhutan for certain periods of time. There are theories to why she remained away from the country. The Ne Win regime was extremely oppressive and she could have possibly been arrested or faced torture. Suu Kyi most likely became accustomed to a Western and international style of living in which Myanmar was only a minor thought. Aung San Suu Kyi's only reason to return to Myanmar was to care for her mother. Daw Khin Kyi was ill . As Suu Kyi was caring for her mother the country was in full scale rebellion. The Ne Win regime was being challenged in 1988 by students, monks, and office workers. They wanted an end to Ne Win's rule and democratic reforms, which they had not seen since 1962. These protests encouraged Suu Kyi to become active in Burmese politics. Aung San Suu Kyi began to organize rallies and agitate for the cause of free elections and the formation of a democratic system.
Aung San Suu Kyi's background makes it seem as if it was inevitable that she would become involved in politics, She is the daughter of Aung San the leader of the national independence movement. She was only two years old when her father was assassinated in 1947. Her mother was the ambassador to India and Suu Kyi spent time in that country. Suu Kyi attended Oxford University in 1964 studying philosophy, politics, and economics. During this period she met her husband Micheal Aris. He was a British historian who studied Bhutanese and Tibetan history. Suu Kyi spent most of the 1970s and early 1980s out of Myanmar. Suu Kyi was based between Japan and Bhutan for certain periods of time. There are theories to why she remained away from the country. The Ne Win regime was extremely oppressive and she could have possibly been arrested or faced torture. Suu Kyi most likely became accustomed to a Western and international style of living in which Myanmar was only a minor thought. Aung San Suu Kyi's only reason to return to Myanmar was to care for her mother. Daw Khin Kyi was ill . As Suu Kyi was caring for her mother the country was in full scale rebellion. The Ne Win regime was being challenged in 1988 by students, monks, and office workers. They wanted an end to Ne Win's rule and democratic reforms, which they had not seen since 1962. These protests encouraged Suu Kyi to become active in Burmese politics. Aung San Suu Kyi began to organize rallies and agitate for the cause of free elections and the formation of a democratic system.
The army then took control after the fall of Ne Win. Aung San Suu Kyi was then placed under house arrest for her political activities.
Aung San Suu Kyi's life took a major turn in 1990. The National League for Democracy won a landslide victory. Her party took 392 seats of the 485 contested. The military did not expect this outcome.Fears that this would lead to a larger rebellion and criminal prosecution of abusive military figures spread throughout the country. Suu Kyi was put under house arrest once more. Gradually, her international profile was raised. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her efforts. The military had to change their image, because international pressure was increasing. The State Law and Order Restoration Council was the official name of the military government and was then changed to the State Peace and Development Council. Than Shwe would come to power in the council ruling from 1992 to 2011. Myanmar continued to deal with poverty, oppression, and ethnic strife. The West noticed the struggle in Myanmar and began to support Suu Kyi's cause. This was not for altruistic reasons. The US and UK wanted a compliant government installed in the country. Suu Kyi's movement was an opportunity to move the country out of a Chinese alignment. Suu Kyi now had support from a number of countries like Australia and most EU countries. The problem with this is that certain nations are attempting to create a puppet to serve their interests. The United States imposed more strict sanctions on Myanmar in 1997. The 1997 sanctions mainly targeted trade, which prohibited private investment in Myanmar.
Sanctions normally hurt the people more so than the rulers. Aung San Suu Kyi supported them even though it could do damage to the nation as a whole. Suu Kyi was building a popular image internationally. It was an image of liberator who would save Myanmar from the military government. This happens with particular public figures in which many of their flaws or mistakes are ignored.Seeing as she is related to a hero of the independence movement it gives her some political advantage. There has been a cult of personality built up over two decades by the opposition for Suu Kyi. A problem arises from these activities. It could blind followers to issues that need to be addressed. Leaders must be held accountable by their supporters, but this cannot happen if they are so enamored with the figure to openly criticize them. Myanmar has reached a new phase and since 2010 there have been political reforms. The negative consequence of a reformed system is that the opposition has become more divided. Some observers note that she has almost elevated herself to a demigod like status among her supporters. The Thien Sien presidency was a short one compared to other former Burmese leaders. The military had handed power to a civilian government, but it still was in firm control of the country. Suu Kyi's survival was based on certain factors. Executing her could have induced another insurgency or wider civil war. The government continues to fight a small scale war with Shan and Karen rebel groups. Creating more enemies would only draw more international attention to particular abuses in Myanmar. Another opportunity presented itself and the National League for Democracy was able to take to use the new reforms to their advantage.
The NLD's victory in recent elections was celebrated, but many realize the struggle is just beginning. Power transition has its complications in countries that do not have a history of a democratic process.There are also disturbing revelations about what Suu Kyi's role will be in the government.
The nature of the new government is peculiar. Suu Kyi cannot be president herself, due to a particular stipulation of the constitution. This could change, however it may not be possible given the delicate situation. Suu Kyi had said that in this government framework "she would rule above the president." That type of system is not democratic if she has not been elected to an office.The new president Htin Kyaw has been a longtime associate of Suu Kyi. The significance is that she will rule by proxy. It is not apparent now, but it will become more pronounced. The dream of a democratic society is slowly being replaced by a path to power. These developments lead to more disturbing actions in regards to certain groups. It has been alleged that Suu Kyi supporters were involved in the persecution of the Rohingya. Suu Kyi was silent when the worst acts of violence against this ethnic group occurred.Buddhist attacks grew in number and viciousness. The result was that Rohingyas became refugees and fled to Bangladesh. Aung San Suu Kyi being an icon of human rights or a least as she is presented did not make peace part of the agenda. Ethnic conflict still continues, but seems to be of little importance to the new government.
It appears as if supporters are either acting on their own or doing it under the direction of Suu Kyi herself. There have also been allegations that the National League of democracy has been jailing people opposed to certain policies or measures. These individuals are not military associated or people attempting to stage a coup, but peace activists on the behalf of the Rohingya. The new government is faced with a conundrum. It either has to keep the nation together by force, developing a more just society, or amassing as much power as it can so that conflict will not spread. If this continues it means that Suu Kyi's liberator image will be destroyed and the democratic experiment a failure. There are also reports that millions of Rohingya were disenfranchised prior to the election. Suu Kyi has fallen into the trap of the political culture of violence and corruption. Her connections to the US and UK do not favor the desire to see the people to live in a stable society. Western investment means that there will be demands to cut social services to satisfy corporations entering the country.
The situation for Myanmar becomes more complicated when considering foreign policy. Tension in the South China Sea, North Korea, and the US pivot to Asia put Myanmar in unfavorable scenarios. Asia is being divided by nations aligned with the US or China. The United States sees China as a threat to its global hegemony and is seeing indirect conflict by arming Asian nations.Myanmar's location is essential to US goals and it is clear interest will be growing. Myanmar under Ne Win had poor relations with China. After his overthrow, there were some adjustments in attitudes.The nation's relations did not become contentious with the US until the 1988 crack down.President Obama took another approach by opening high level dialogue with Myanmar in 2009 . Sanctions were still in place, but the United States desired to discuss North Korean arms sales and cooperation in regards to international security issues. Around 2011 the US said that it would no longer block aid from the IMF and World Bank to Myanmar.Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with both Thein Sien and Aung San Suu Kyi. The following year USAID began a mission there and bans on financial investment were slowly being eased. President Obama then met with President Thien Sien in November of 2012. The United States will ignore the constant human rights violations as long as Myanmar moves further away from Beijing. China has become Myanmar's biggest investor . This investment is mostly in infrastructure. The United States wants to push out Chinese business from Myanmar in favor of American companies. It is inevitable that Aung San Suu Kyi will either have to choose between a more assertive China and a conquering US. There is an alternative. It is possible that Suu Kyi and the NLD could play both powers off against one another to benefit Myanmar. This has been done in Asia before. Nepal has done this tactic when dealing with China and India. So far, Myanmar has maintained its non-aligned stance. Aung San Suu Kyi will make adjustments give the geopolitical circumstances. Internal politics also are a factor. The military still has an abnormal amount of influence in the government and would react to a sudden shift to the West . Suu Kyi is mindful of this. Myanmar will most likely distance itself from North Korea under Suu Kyi. The reason would be to get other sanctions lifted, because certain ones are for arms trade with the DPRK.Suu Kyi may not reject China entirely, because of the economic potential it has. The end of the Thein Sein presidency has given China a clean slate to work from. Suu Kyi now be looking to bring the country out isolation by establishing diplomatic relations with nations outside of Asia.
Before that happens, relations with Myanmar's neighbors must be stable. Ethnic conflict has the ability to spread across borders and increase hostility. Discrimination and racism directed at Myanmar's ethnic minorities could result in a large exodus of refugees. Thailand, which has political problems of its own would not be able to handle refugees. Laos and Vietnam are struggling economically. Bangladesh has already taken fleeing Rohingya. India and China would reject allowing mass migration. The key to securing regional peace is to end ethnic conflict. If Suu Kyi wants a functioning state this should be one of the top priorities.
There still remains an important question. Does Aung San Suu Kyi have the right to rule? Just being the daughter of the national liberation hero does not. Her passion and enthusiasm gives her credibility. However it cannot be ignored that she associates with the nation that was the former colonizer.British rule was both brutal and exploitative . This should not be forgotten and it makes no sense to get assistance from a country that is capable of that type of abuse. Suu Kyi obviously does not have the support of the majority of the population. If she is serious about the democratic experiment decisions should come from consent, not one person. That is why appointing a president seems to be contradictory. For decades the Burmese have not been able to select their leaders.Suu Kyi 's arbitrary pick defeats the purpose of democratic system. There is a level of dishonesty that is being exposed. It appears that the new system mirrors the old one in a different form. Suu Kyi's rule by proxy is just as problematic as the military's influence over government. Suu Kyi's legitimacy can be disputed. Based on these particular patterns of behavior her right and legitimacy to can be questioned . The constitution it can be argued should be changed to be fair to every citizen. Saying that a government official is above the law sets a precedent for authoritarianism. There is a possibility Aung San Suu Kyi could become the very entity she was fighting against. Although thirty million voters casts their ballots, a large number of people were prevented from voting. Muslim candidates were restricted from running or being on ballots. Ignoring the Muslim- Buddhist conflict, which has become more pronounced makes Suu Kyi appear hypocritical. If the economic situation gets worse hatred will grow. Poverty has caused much misery for the population. Healthcare is of low quality and unemployment has increased. Years of military government corruption has created this. Suu Kyi must address and reverse this before any new private investment. Aung San Suu Kyi has much more to do. It still remains unclear if she is a puppet of Western interests or seeking an alternate agenda. Her legacy will continue to be mixed in terms of Burmese history.
Further Reading
Mason, Colin. A Short History of Asia. New York : St.Martin's Press, 2000.
"Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., 9 Nov. 2015. Web. 16 Apr. 2016. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11685977>.
Xu, Beina. "Understanding Myanmar." Council on Foreign Relations. N.p., 25 Mar. 2016. Web. 16 Apr. 2016. <http://www.cfr.org/human-rights/understanding-myanmar/p14385>.
Cartalucci, Tony. "Myanmar’s Political Transition: Aung San Suu Kyi “Non-Democratic Democracy”." Global Research. N.p., 16 Apr. 2016. Web. 15 Apr. 2016. <http://www.globalresearch.ca/myanmars-political-transition-aung-san-suu-kyi-non-democratic-democracy/5520382>.
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