Is Aung San Suu Kyi facing backlash for her silence on the Rakhine conflict?

[rootX]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11749661

The Burmese military authorities have released the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, from house arrest.

I am happy.

 

[arildno]

So am I.

The Nobel committee has already officially invited her to hold her Nobel Laureate lecture here in Oslo (19 years after she was awarded the peace Prize), if she so wishes.

Last time she was freed, in 2002, she declined, because she feared she would not be allowed to re-enter Burma.

 

[lisab]

Yay! I hope this bodes well for Burma.

Years ago I had a computer science prof whose wife was Burmese. They had to go back to take care of her mother, who was having health problems. He was very, very concerned about returning - felt it was extremely dangerous but also felt he didn't have a choice. He didn't come back on the day he was scheduled to return. I never heard how, or if, he got out .

 

[Gokul43201]

Aha! This is interesting, and good!

A few months ago, I heard about the release of one of Suu Kyi's allies, and also a long time political prisoner (somewhat ironically, I read this just after I read an opinion either in NYT or WaPo about Burma spitting on Obama's efforts at diplomacy). I then began wondering if Suu Kyi's release might happen just before their "election", to assuage public sentiment, but naturally, that would have been too risky (of course, I would have still expected the junta to prevent her party from being on the ballot).

A small step in the context of the big picture, perhaps, but a positive step nonetheless.

 

[lisab]

Aha! This is interesting, and good!

A few months ago, I heard about the release of one of Suu Kyi's allies, and also a long time political prisoner (somewhat ironically, I read this just after I read an opinion either in NYT or WaPo about Burma spitting on Obama's efforts at diplomacy). I then began wondering if Suu Kyi's release might happen just before their "election", to assuage public sentiment, but naturally, that would have been too risky (of course, I would have still expected the junta to prevent her party from being on the ballot).

A small step in the context of the big picture, perhaps, but a positive step nonetheless.

According to the https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html":

AUNG SAN SUU KYI's house arrest was due to end in May 2009, but was extended for eighteen months after she was convicted for violating the terms of her house arrest.

So this release was previously scheduled (conveniently, just after the "election"). Of course the surprising thing was, they junta did what they said what they would do, and released her.

 

[rootX]

Yay! I hope this bodes well for Burma.

Years ago I had a computer science prof whose wife was Burmese. They had to go back to take care of her mother, who was having health problems. He was very, very concerned about returning - felt it was extremely dangerous but also felt he didn't have a choice. He didn't come back on the day he was scheduled to return. I never heard how, or if, he got out .

She also went to Burma to take care of her ill mother but got house arrested. Later, her husband got prostate cancer but Burma did not allow him to enter. She did not want to leave fearing that she wouldn't be able to get in.

 

[Gokul43201]

So this release was previously scheduled (conveniently, just after the "election"). Of course the surprising thing was, they junta did what they said what they would do, and released her.

I didn't know this (or have long forgotten). Had the date of the election already been picked back then?

 

[lisab]

I didn't know this (or have long forgotten). Had the date of the election already been picked back then?

Good question, I really don't know.

Edit: Here's a link from August 2009:

http://www.earthrights.org/about/ne...d-18-months-house-arrest-trial-condemned-sham

Many analysts speculate the main reason for the charges against Ms. Suu Kyi is to give Burma's military government an excuse to keep her out of next year's planned elections; elections already condemned as a tool to entrench military rule and an attempt to increase the junta’s legitimacy. Her previous period of house arrest expired on 27 May, and the new term of 18 months will mean she will remain in detention during the polls, which are expected to happen in May 2010.

Another link on the same story:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124996714733221921.html

 

[nismaratwork]

If only for the sake of Ms. Suu Kyi this is good news, but unless she pulls a Mandela this is just good news for her and moral support for a democratic movement.

 

[cobalt124]

Wonderful news for Burma but probably only in the long term. I haven't followed recent events much, but the cynical part of me suspects there's politics and money behind it somewhere (usually is), improved trade relations or something.

 

[rootX]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11752993

She is very cautious about criticizing current government/leaders.

 

[nismaratwork]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11752993

She is very cautious about criticizing current government/leaders.

I'm sure that it was made very clear to her just what she could and couldn't say, or she'd be back under house arrest. She may be trying a "Mandela" approach, or 15 years of house arrest and stress may have let her convince herself that a less intense approach is beneficial to all?

It's also possible that she's not going to play into the junta's hands by trying to foment revolution when the junta is as strong as it has ever been. Ms. Suu Kyi seems smart to me, and savvy, so she may well wait for a time when the junta is vulnerable to make a real play.

 

[rootX]

Further interesting update:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11775469

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11775469

 

[rootX]

BBC appeared to reluctant to say this but it's so natural to think:
Is Burma regime inciting Rakhine conflict to discredit Aung San Suu Kyi?

BBC article:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20106768 Sad part is Aung seems quiet about this incident but she appears to be in difficult position as majority of people don't like Muslims in Burma. Another democracy failure?