The One to lead Burma towards democracy

November 15th, 2010

Banya Hongsar : Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s hope and
leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) has two battles
to face in her short time after release. Firstly, she has to convince
the military junta that she is willing to have a dialogue and produce
a compromise with the military leaders. Secondly, she has to
convince the armed ethnic forces and politicians that she is willing
to find a workable model of ‘Federal Union of Burma” that was
agreed upon between her father and the ethnic parties sixty years
ago.
These two issues will not be easy for Daw Suu and her senior
colleagues in the post election period, because the ruling junta still
controls the Burmese government. Furthermore, the ethnic-based
armed forces and political organizations have limited resources and
capacity to pressure the ruling junta to withdraw from the ethnic
states and their controlled areas after the cease-fire agreement took
place in early 1990s. One’s highest hope is that Daw Suu could
convince both the ruling junta and the ethnic-leaders that she is
willing to bring peace and national unity among them. Daw Suu also
needs the moral and political support from local social and civil
rights forces to meet and discuss any durable solutions among all
players in the country.
Furthermore, it is Daw Suu who could pressure the ruling junta for
dialogue and national unity spirit. Daw Suu claimed that non-
violence is her way and her policy to build and restore democracy in
the country. The seven ethnic states must be given assurance that
the ethnic people will enjoy gradual autonomy under a re-written
new constitution based on the foundation of the National League for
Democracy’s model. Likewise, the ethnic states and leaders should
also be assured by her that all leaders will be willing to build a
workable model of a new “Federal Union of Burma” that united the
national spirit within new political environment.
Burmese people not only love Daw Suu but also rely on her
message. The people rarely listen to the messages of Senior General
Than Shwe or other ruling generals. A long time Burma’s observer,
Professor Josef Silverstein, wrote about the “Idea of freedom in
Burma and the political thoughts of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’ in early
year of Burma’s democracy movement, which states, “despite the
military’s effort to isolates her presence from the mind of the public,
she continues to hold its loyalty because of her courage and because
the message she continues to deliver is in the mainstream of
Burmese culture and tradition.” Daw Suu’s message is clear stating
that she is willing to work with everyone who wants to bring about
democratic change in the country, benefitting all, even the soldiers
from all armies in the conflicts.
Calling a National Unity Conference must be her priority. A
National Unity Conference could instate policies that would cease
the current civil war and demand government troops withdrawal
from the ethnic states. Finally, Daw Suu must examine the laws
currently in place that are unjust and discriminate against the
citizens, especially the ethnic people’s social and cultural rights. As a
leader of hope, Daw Suu can bring unity among all politicians of all
sides to foster tolerance and acceptance within the country.
Daw Suu’s challenge is greater than all other politicians and ethnic
leaders throughout the country. She has to convince both sides of
politics, along with her own that Burma seriously needs national
unity. It is our hope, likewise that she can end the suffering of the
Burmese people. The damages done by the ruling junta may be
considered beyond repair, but her courage instills hope in us all.
Canberra, Australia.
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