a 'tragic end' for Aung San Suu Kyi?

The Burmese media has spoken out against democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time since her release from house arrest back in November.

This criticism is almost a retaliation to the statement made a few days ago by the NLD, showing their support of the sanctions placed on Burma. The Burmese military junta have always spoken out against the sanctions placed upon them, as they say that they harm the people more than the country, and have caused even more poverty in the country. However, it is widely recognised in the international community that these sanctions effectively hinder the military regime from prospering, without harming the people to a great extent.

Along with saying that the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi would 'meet a tragic end' if they continued to speak out, the Burmese media (which is, of course, completely state run) also threw out other insults, such as calling the party 'Big headed' and saying that they are ignoring that Burma is 'marching towards a new era'. The statement released also mentioned that it wanted the NLD to 'co-operate' with the Burmese military, although it did not say what this co-operation would entail.

I feel that this statement is the government's attempt to try and suppress and blacken the name of the NLD, who, despite being disbanded in november of last year, have been extremely active and prominent on the international scene recently. However, there is so much support behind the NLD that i feel that it is a wasted effort on behalf of the military junta, and will influence very few, even in Burma. 

Myanmar sanctions.

Burma has had sanctions placed upon it since 1997 when they refused to let Aung San Suu Kyi out of house arrest, and now Suu Kyi and her disbanded party have spoken out about them, saying they 'affect only the leaders of the ruling regime and their close business associates, not the majority of the people'.


The UN sanctions on Burma include a trade embargo, and other sanctions from individual countries have made it impossible for western nations to invest and do business with Burma. While this is helpful in showing the lack of support for the military dictatorship, it does leave the field open for other countries, such as China and Thailand to trade with Burma, which is rich in natural resources, and therefore is not as effective as it could be if it were universal across all countries. Countries that have placed sanctions on Burma include the EU, who have banned all aid except for humanitarian assistance and the sale of military equipment and other trading items, the US, who have similar sanctions, (although they do allow the trade and sale of some items as Burma has lots of natural resources), Canada, and Japan. Both Australia and New Zealand have visa restrictions on military officals, but no other sanctions are in place, and the South East Asian group, ASEAN, have opposed the use of sanctions against Burma(who is also a member of ASEAN). 


I agree whole heartedly with Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD, as the people of Burma should not be punished for the mistakes and failures of their leadership, and i believe that this is the only way that the west can show their support for the NLD (which has been technically been forced to disband by the junta, but still continues to function unofficially) and their lack of support for the military regime. 

Opening up it's economic doors,

Aung San Suu Kyi has declared that she wants international companies to start investing in Burma, as the country has been 'left behind' after years of political strife. She addressed the World Economic Forum and said that these international economic ties will help bring Burma political stability, although while investing, foreign companies must put a premium on respect for the law, environmental and social factors, workers rights and many other things, or it will not help change the country for the good.

Suu Kyi seems to have also changed her mind on tourism in Burma. She has stated that while large package tours should be discouraged as they are run by the government and will only help increase the power of the military, people should be encouraged to come as individuals and see the country for themselves, not just as a news story or some facts on a page. Having been to Burma I agree completely with Aung San Suu Kyi, as Burma is not a country you can understand simply by reading about it, and by visiting and staying in privately owned hotels, you will greatly help the economic situation for the Burmese people, without putting money in the Junta's pockets. 

Opposition group launches website

Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the NLD, have now launched a website. Having recently been released from house arrest Suu Kyi is evidently keen to get back into politics, and having her party launch a website is obviously the first step towards this. The NLD boycotted last november's elections, calling them unfair and corrupt. Now that the junta are officially in power, they have launched a website, meant for supporters both in burma and internationally, however it is unknown yet whether the government will block the website in Burma or not. The website allows supporters to learn about the party's beliefs, media appearences, and it shows any breaking news concerning the party. I believe that this website is a great step forward in helping the rest of the world become more involved in what is happening in Burma right now.

http://www.nldburma.org/

Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi was born on the 19th June, 1945 in Rangoon, and was educated at a Methodist English high school, which is now creatively known as basic education high school no. 1, Dragon, and Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, from which she graduated in 1964 She then gained a degree from St. Hugh's college, Oxford, in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, in 1969. She also worked with the UN for three years, and gained a PHD in Oriental and African studies from the University of London in 1988. Her parents were both politically active, with her father negotiating independence from the british in 1945, and her mother became Burmese ambassador to India and Nepal in 1960.

Aung San Suu Kyi's political career started in 1988 when she returned to Burma to look after her ill mother, and she made a speech to half a million people at a mass rally on the 26th August, just after the 8888 uprisings (because general Ne Win stepped down) , about Burma's need for a democratic government. On the 24th September, the National Leauge for democracy (NDL) was formed, and Aung San Suu Kyi was general secretary. She was put under house arrest on the 20th July 1989, and refused to leave the country in exchange for freedom. This house arrest lasted until the 10th July 1995. Aung San Suu Kyi has been influenced by Gandhi's concept of Satyaragha, or non-violence, and many Bhuddist concepts.

In 1990 the Junta ran a general election, in which the NLD won 59% of the votes, however the Junta refused to give up power and the party was refused office. This caused international outcry, and led to Suu Kyi being given the Sakharov prize in 1990 and the Nobel peace prize in 1991.

On the 9th November 1996, Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD members were attacked while driving through Rangoon. The attackers were thought to be members of the Union Solidarity Development Association, and an official complaint was filed with the government, however no action was ever taken.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 15 of the past 20 years, with it being illegally prolonged (both in Burma and Internationally),  on the 28th May 2008 and the 11th August 2009. She was released again on the 13th November 2010, only 5 days after the 2010 elections, where it became apparent the USDP were going to win the elections, despite no official results being released.

She has also been very involved with the UN, with the UN making many failed appeaks to the junta to try and get her released from house arrest

Burma's political system.

Burma is run by an oppresive military government, otherwise known as the junta, which took power in a coup in 1962. After only 14 short years of democracy after gaining indipendance from the UK, General Ne Win seized power on the 2nd March, becoming Prime Minister and chairman of the revolutionary council.

Before seizing power General Ne Win had also stepped in as interim Prime Minister in 1958 when the current prime minister, U Nu, only just survived a vote against his confidence as a leader. Ne Win restored order to Burma and reliquished his power in 1960 when U Nu won the election.

In 1990 an election which was held, which was won in a landslide by Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party, with 59% of the votes, however she was barred from office and instead was put under house arrest, and the junta continued to rule.

This military coup led to Burma becoming a single party socialist state with everything being controlled by the government, and ethnic groups being punished especially. Now the head of state is Than Shwe, although this could all change when the results of the election are released.

Free at last

Two days ago Aung San Suu Kyi was finally released from house arrest, which she had been put under for about fifteen of the last twenty years. Although its great that she is finally free, who knows how long the Junta will let her stay free...
This article here gives us a little insight into her release; my favorite quote from her here has to be 'We should walk together, united. Only then can we acheive our goal'. She is seriously awesome.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/today-suu-kyi-will-begin-a-new-campaign-for-democracy-2133664.html