Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi & Democracy

Given the pressing demand of media coverage of economic news worldwide, stories of Aung San Suu Kyi usually gets put on the back burner. Only lately, following the talk of extension of Suu Kyi’s house arrest in the aftermath of an unwelcome visit by an American at her compound, has recast some of the media’s attention on Burma once more. But for the people of Burma she is an everyday hope. While we may hear of Suu Kyi in our media circles only occasionally, she is an everyday discussion theme among the Burmese hopefuls. But what exactly does her release mean for the current junta government of Burma? We all know the answer to that question. If Suu Kyi is to be openly allowed to canvass she can garner enough support among the Burmese to put her at the helm of her country once again. And the junta knows this very well. Thus it finds the murky incident that is not entirely clear to the rest of the world as a pretext to lock her up for a few more years -- an act well coordinated in an effort to keep Suu Kyi from exercising any influence in the upcoming election of 2010.
While she continues to be a symbol of hope worldwide, both of women’s rights and democracy, there is actually not much the West can do in securing her release. Any attempt so far has gone unheeded by the Burmese government. It is up to the people of Burma to bring about the change that the West including many of Burma’s neighboring countries have long hoped for.
It may be too late and unfortunately it may also be that Aung San Suu Kyi may not come out to enjoy the freedom like the other great leader in another continent, who shares some degree of similarity with her – the great Nelson Mandela. There is much parallel to be drawn between the two legendary figures who have fought for freedom in different ways only in different places.
Lately, the British government has been talking about putting economic sanctions on Burma following the UN Secretaty General's unsuccessful attempt to meet with Suu Kyi duing his recent visit ot Burma. Any sort of economic sanction to punish the government of a country does have its collateral damage that is indirectly inflicted on the very people that we try to protect. We have seen the dire consequences of sanctions placed on Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s regime. One such sanction in the form of oil for food program terribly hurt the Iraqi locals. Thus, I am of the belief that sanctions do not work and they only make matters worse. [http://www.globalissues.org/article/105/effects-of-sanctions]

Democracy will come to Burma one day but unfortunately it may be too late for Suu Kyi to celebrate such triumphant moments with her supporters. No government in history has succeeded in trampling its citizens ceaselessly. Once the wrath of the people is unleashed after its patience has long been tested, democracy will shine. Given the socioeconomic condition of Burma, whether this long yearned democracy proves sustainable in tha long run in that country is something that will depend on the ultimate resolve of Burma’s people. What is regrettable nonetheless is the fact that I remember learning about Suu Kyi’s struggle from the perspectives of newspapers in Bangladesh back in early 90s. Now, after over a decade I read similar news just from another part of the world. Sadly nothing has changed for Burma.

-Arif Jamal