All Eyes on Burma: Mixed Message of Suu Kyi’s Release

[ Suu Kyi Returns to Party Headquarters in Rangoon, Burma ]

Burma’s icon of democracy—as has become her moniker—Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest on Saturday after spending 15 of the last 20 years in some form of detention. Not wasting a moment more, the Nobel laureate made it clear that her mission remains seeking democracy for Burma (presently called Myanmar by the ruling junta). While the international community is lauding the junta for her release, it is underwritten by the knowledge that her freedom is fragile, and could be taken away by the ruling generals at any moment.

In an interview with Radio Free Asia on Sunday, Suu Kyi said clearly, “The main thing I have in mind is for us to achieve democracy.”

She also made it clear that she is relying on the support of the international community, not just the support of the people of Burma—many of whom thronged her house in jubilation as soon as the gates opened.

“We need people’s participation increasingly. By people, I am not referring only to people in our country, but also people of the world. I also mentioned this in the news conference today, also when I talked to the (foreign) diplomats, and also to the people,” Suu Kyi told RFA.

Foreign governments, fellow Nobel Prize winners, rock stars like Bono, as well as the United Nations, have all offered Suu Kyi and the hopeful people of Burma generous signs of supporting her vision.

“Today I join with billions of people around the world to welcome the long-overdue release of Burmese democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. ... We urge Burma’s leaders to break from their repressive policies and begin an inclusive dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic and ethnic leaders toward national reconciliation and a more peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future,” said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a statement on Saturday.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson said the U.N. chief, “urges the Myanmar authorities to build on today’s action by releasing all remaining political prisoners. Democracy and national reconciliation require that all citizens of Myanmar are free to participate as they wish in the political life of their country.”

Mixed Signals

Suu Kyi’s release has to be framed as a positive sign for freedom in Burma. To keep her in detention past her scheduled release date—again—would have been seen as sign of the dictatorship’s continued use of an iron fist, and elicited a storm of international protest.

It is impossible not to speculate that the regime’s motivation in releasing Suu Kyi was to deflect some of the criticism world leaders and human rights groups have thrown at it since the elections six days prior to her release. The junta claimed a resounding victory in the vote, but it was widely condemned as having been fixed.

“The electoral process was severely flawed, precluded an inclusive, level playing field, and repressed fundamental freedoms. As a result, the elections were neither free nor fair,” said Clinton in a statement.