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| Kathmandu, Wednesday May 08, 2002 Baishakh 25, 2059. |
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Free at last
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi’s release from the 18-month long house arrest is another example that voice of
freedom and democracy is too powerful to be suppressed by any regime. Conditions of her
release following the UN-brokered dialogue with the Burmese junta have not yet been made
public. But it would be difficult to imagine that Suu Kyi would have accepted any
condition that would curtail the campaign for democracy. All that the official version
says about the release is that she will be at liberty to carry out all her activities,
including matters concerning her party, as of May 6, 2002. This makes clear that she would
not have the right to stake a claim to form the government on the basis of her
party’s — the National League of Democracy (NLD) — landslide victory in the
1990 general elections. But it is hard to believe that Suu Kyi’s release will not
give a fillip to the movement for democracy and the ultimate transfer of power to the
civilian authorities, something that has been at the crux of unrest in that country for
the past 12 years. The NLD’s birth was aimed to establish democracy in that country.
The military regime granting her the liberty to get involved with her party activities
amounts to recognising the fact that her pro-democracy activities will not be curtailed.
The denial of democratic rights to the people
and denying the elected party to form the government had resulted in continued isolation
and criticism of that country. This was further exasperated by the crippling international
sanctions. Suu Kyi’s release and expected political reforms can, however, change the
way the international community treated Myanmar. After all, Suu Kyi ‘s peaceful ways
of striving for democracy have been recognised internationally. The country, no doubt, has
its own compulsions. Crucial geo-political location, insurgency and militant base just
across the boarder are quite vital factors in determining its security perception. The
post independence phase has also witnessed infighting among political groups, corruption
and political instability often leading to major civil unrest. The military assertion at
times has also got wide public support. That, however, cannot be the ground for a long
spell of military rule or suppression of basic democratic rights. Nor can it be a license
to nullify the electoral mandate as reflected in the 1990 general elections which gave NLD
the right to rule the country in the name of the Burmese people.
The long and heroic fight put up by Suu Kyi
without any compromise, even during the most tragic phase of her life when she lost her
husband about two years ago, shows her level of commitment and dedication to the cause of
democracy and human rights. She is aware of the past mistakes committed by her
pro-democracy predecessors as well as the fact that Myanmar’s military leadership at
different spells of crises in that country has been able steer the country off. That she
wants to take the country ahead with a policy of reconciliation under a favourable
political process is the message she gave upon her release on Monday. A policy of national
reconciliation and incorporation of its fundamental features and traditional symbols is a
definite guarantee of Myanmar’s durable peace, prosperity and positive image abroad. |
