Nicholas Salmons
11/12/09
10:45 pm
Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the Nobel peace prize and leader of the National League for Democracy party in Burma, is apparently facing a possible release from her 18-month house arrest (which followed her 14-year imprisonment) so as to "organize her party," according to a Burmese director-general in the foreign ministry. Despite this statement, no specifics were given regarding the nature of her release, nor was there any clarification as to whether or not she will be eligible for election or even allowed to campaign. According to the article, this type of tactic has been used in the past by Burma's junta only to prolong Aung San Suu Kyi's internment. This has been noted by supporters of Suu Kyi, who state that the real concern of the junta is finding relief from trade sanctions and international approval for the upcoming "sham elections."
I find this article to be based mostly around the idea of faith in words without any action behind them. The US has reopened "a policy of engagement" with the Brumese junta, but according to the article, this has only led to "exploratory talks" with various Burmese officials - though not Burma's ruler, General Than Shwe. It's good to know that Bill Nye is doing his civic duty. Granted, I think actual communication is one of the first steps toward real progress or change, but I don't know that it should be its own end in the international political scene. Not to say that that is what's going on, but with Suu Kyi's supporters saying this new statement made by the junta is in fact nothing new, you have to wonder how much more talking is necessary to say the same stuff. The junta threw out 1990's election results, which Suu Kyi won "by a landslide." It is believed that similar results may occur following the next election, which may be used merely as a tool for the junta's international recognition.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/09/aung-san-suu-kyi-release
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