Fingers crossed in Aung San Suu Kyi’s Myanmar

The release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi seems to be one more peculiar tryst in Myanmar’s history. The country is just emerging from one more suspect election, which received international condemnation amidst allegations that it was rigged in favour of the ruling military regime. The timing of Suu Kyi’s release thus raises doubts. There is speculation that the military junta decided to release her to deflect attention from the flawed elections. If this turns out to be true, there is no guarantee that Suu Kyi will not be re-arrested on some flimsy charges, as has happened in the past. Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since 1989.

Myanmar’s problem is that the democratic movement has been fractured in the years that the Nobel Prize winner has been imprisoned. Many feel that Suu Kyi’s uncompromising stand has set the democracy process back. The international community has been vocal in condemnation but has provided little tangible support. The India-China rivalry may also be working against Myanmar’s return to democracy since both countries are keen to derive short-term geopolitical advantage by working with the military regime. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for the hapless citizens of Myanmar as yet.