Burma: Extension of Suu Kyi's detention - full text
Searching more than 75 years of world history
The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the military government of Burma (officially named Myanmar), on May 27 let it be known, through a brief announcement by the police, that the house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be extended for one more year. The 61-year-old Suu Kyi, daughter of Burmese independence leader Aung San, had spent 11 of the last 17 years under house arrest. Her latest detention started in May 2003 after a caravan of her supporters was attacked by a government-led mob. She was first detained in 1989 by the country's former ruling military junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), for leading the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD).
Immediate Context
Burma’s military government was considered one of the most repressive in the world, a reputation that it earned after repeated crackdowns on opposition political parties, imprisonment of politicians as well as reports of murder, rape and forced labour being used for political repression. Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD had won democratic elections in 1990 but these were ignored by the military regime. The record of human rights abuses led to the imposition of trade sanctions by the USA and EU in the early 1990s. Over the last two years, the USA, the EU and the UN increased efforts to persuade the SPDC to release Suu Kyi. In addition, the Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB), in September 2006 released a report condemning the SPDC for continuing to recruit child soldiers.
Burma had been under pressure from its neighbours and international organisations to introduce democratic reforms since the annulment of the 1990 elections. In July 2005, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) forced Burma to forgo its scheduled rotation as chairman of the organisation. In December 2005, the UN Security Council debated the situation in Burma for the first time. In June 2006, the UN Undersecretary for Political Affairs held a meeting with Suu Kyi, her first meeting with a foreigner since 2004. Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, whose country currently chaired ASEAN, criticised the SPDC in an article in the May 23, 2007, Irrawaddy News Magazine for failing to introduce democratic reforms.
Reaction and Outlook
Most observers expected the extension of Suu Kyi's detention, saying that the SPDC feared that the hugely popular pro-democracy leader could threaten its rule. In response, US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said: "The continued incarceration and house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi is one of several issues that are posing a real blockage in terms of Burma being able to rejoin the international community" according to the Qatar Gulf Times May 26. A spokesman for the EU presidency, quoted in the Times of India on May 26 said that it deeply condemned the decision, adding in a statement that "The government's decision demonstrates persistent unwillingness to engage all political and ethnic forces of the country in a genuine dialogue with a view to bringing about true national reconciliation and the establishment of democracy." UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was quoted by Ceylon Daily News on June 1 as saying that he regretted the decision but was determined to continue working towards tangible progress in Burma.
The current extension of Suu Kyi’s house arrest appeared likely to lead to an extension of the US and EU trade embargoes. Participants in the International Conference on Freedom and Democracy on June 6 signed a petition in support of Suu Kyi and democratic changes in Burma. The petition was signed by former Czech president Vaclav Havel, leader of the Belarussian opposition Alexander Milinkevich and former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky. On the same day, the Canadian House of Commons voted unanimously for the immediate release of Suu Kyi.
Historical Context
Burma achieved independence from the UK in October 1947, after more than 100 years of colonial rule, under the leadership of Suu Kyi’s father, Gen. Aung San. Only months before independence, on July 19, 1947, Aung San and six of his newly formed cabinet members were assassinated during a cabinet meeting.
After independence, non-Burmese nationalities, including Nagas, Karenni, Shan and Mon groups, opposed the military government, as did communist groups.
Gen. Ne Win formed a government in 1958 after promising the Mon and Rakhine peoples semi-autonomy. Elections in 1960 gave power to U Nu. His refusal to grant the same status to the Shan and the Kayins prompted rebellion, and in a 1962 military coup, Gen. Ne Win assumed control.
The draconian political and economic measures taken by Ne Win and the Revolutionary Council government that he headed were called the "Burmese Way to Socialism".
The military government’s suppression of discussions--on such topics as the representation of the several nationalities that comprised Burma; the balance of power between central and regional governments; and the lack of democratic elections--led to instability and violence. Throughout the 1970s, there were repeated student uprisings in key Burmese cities. These in turn resulted in crackdowns and university closures.
In 1988, a huge demonstration led by students resulted in a violent crackdown by the military, who agreed to hold democratic elections in 1989. When the NLD won 60 per cent of the votes in the May 1990 election, however, the military declared the elections invalid. Since that time the military government made repeated gestures towards introducing democratic government, although it has made no real moves in that direction. NLD leader Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 while under house arrest. Suu Kyi has remained the leader of the NLD.
