Aung San Suu Kyi modern day saint falling from grace?

[Ah_Zai]

Fascinating piece I saw in my Facebook feed. It's written by the Brits. The Westerners have generally lauded ASSK for her fight for her country's freedom but I have not read a single western piece which single her out for her political ambitions.

 

If you want me to sum up this piece diplomatically - "She is a politician".

 

 

 

http://blogs.channel4.com/world-news-blog/aung-san-suu-kyi-falling-grace/26332

 

As political heroes go, few rank higher that Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Most people know her as a modern-day saint – the diminutive democrat who defied Burma’s ruthless military leaders. Yet an increasing number are beginning to question Ms Suu Kyi’s judgement.

Remarks made in a BBC television interview this week in relation to that country’s brutal ethnic conflict between Buddhists and the minority Muslims have earned particular criticism. Observers and activists have accused Burma’s “icon of democracy” of factual inaccuracies and a surprising shortage of compassion.

Ethnic violence erupted last year in Sittwe, the capital of Burma’s Rakhine state. Rohingya Muslims bore the brunt of the violence with an estimated 142,000 now living in a series of squalid camps. In April, Human Rights Watch accused government and military officials, as well as local extremist groups, of ethnic cleansing.

When asked about HRW’s findings by the BBC, Ms Suu Kyi dismissed them out of hand. “It’s not ethnic cleansing,” she said. “What the world needs to understand (is) that the fear is not just on the side of the Muslims, but on the side of the Buddhists as well.” This is her standard response to questions about the violence. Nobody bears responsibility. Instead, “fear” is blamed. Everyone suffers “equally”. In Ms Suu Kyi’s world, victims and offenders are the same.

Unfortunately, it’s not true. The vast majority of Muslim Rohingya residents in Sittwe have been cleared out while Buddhists (for the most part) remain in their homes. Furthermore, the Rohingya are politically powerless. They are denied citizenship in Burma and face a wide range of draconian restrictions on healthcare, schooling, travel – even their ability to have children. The Buddhist population on the other hand face no comparable restrictions – and why would they? They control the local and state government.

Muslims in Burma were troubled by several other references in her BBC interview. First, a reference to those Muslims who had “managed to integrate” has made many feel uncomfortable. Here’s what she said: “I would like to make the point that there are many moderate Muslims in Burma who have been well integrated into our society….” That’s got many people asking whether she thinks Muslims have to acquire some sort of “Burmeseness” in order to be “accepted”. There is, of course, no such thing as a national identity in Burma. The constitution recognises 135 different ethnic groups

Secondly, Ms Suu Kyi seems to suggest that the violence was caused by Buddhists’ fear of what she calls “global Muslim power”, saying: “You, I think, will accept that there is a perception that Muslim power, global Muslim power, is very great and certainly that is the perception in many parts of the world, and in our country too.” This is dangerous territory for the Nobel Prize winner.

The Rohingya have not been linked with any acts of violence – or pan-Arab extremist groups like al-Qaeda – despite the desperate situation they find themselves in. If Burmese Buddhists perceive Muslim groups like the Rohingya to be part of a “global Muslim power movement”, it is incumbent on her, as a person with real moral authority, to correct that misconception.

Despite her comments, Ms Suu Kyi finds herself very much in demand. She has been in the UK this week visiting a long list of dignitaries, like the Prime Minister David Cameron and former leader Gordon Brown, as well as Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Today, Ms Suu Kyi travelled to Sandhurst military academy (see picture above) to “deliver a speech and see the cadets training,” according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Interestingly, Ms Suu Kyi won’t be visiting any civil rights groups in London – the organisations who supported her vigorously when she spent nearly two decades under house arrest. Nor is she expected to drop in on members of the sizeable Burmese community in the UK. To do so would lead to the sort of robust exchange of views that our modern-day saint now seems keen to avoid.

Edited October 29, 2013 by Ah_Zai

[Suv8]

Fascinating piece I saw in my Facebook feed. It's written by the Brits. The Westerners have generally lauded ASSK for her fight for her country's freedom but I have not read a single western piece which single her out for her political ambitions.

 

If you want me to sum up this piece diplomatically - "She is a politician".

 

 

Let her and Myanmar do what is right for her country. Remember, Brits, Yanks, Europeans in general are bleeding heart liberals n hypocrites. Look at what's happening in their own countries. And they continue to preach. Judge. Criticise. Even start internal strife in countries like Syria n Libya. N close their eyes to their allies with lousy human rights records.

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://blogs.channel4.com/world-news-blog/aung-san-suu-kyi-falling-grace/26332

 

As political heroes go, few rank higher that Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Most people know her as a modern-day saint the diminutive democrat who defied Burmas ruthless military leaders. Yet an increasing number are beginning to question Ms Suu Kyis judgement.

 

Remarks made in a BBC television interview this week in relation to that countrys brutal ethnic conflict between Buddhists and the minority Muslims have earned particular criticism. Observers and activists have accused Burmas icon of democracy of factual inaccuracies and a surprising shortage of compassion.

 

Ethnic violence erupted last year in Sittwe, the capital of Burmas Rakhine state. Rohingya Muslims bore the brunt of the violence with an estimated 142,000 now living in a series of squalid camps. In April, Human Rights Watch accused government and military officials, as well as local extremist groups, of ethnic cleansing.

 

When asked about HRWs findings by the BBC, Ms Suu Kyi dismissed them out of hand. Its not ethnic cleansing, she said. What the world needs to understand (is) that the fear is not just on the side of the Muslims, but on the side of the Buddhists as well. This is her standard response to questions about the violence. Nobody bears responsibility. Instead, fear is blamed. Everyone suffers equally. In Ms Suu Kyis world, victims and offenders are the same.

 

Unfortunately, its not true. The vast majority of Muslim Rohingya residents in Sittwe have been cleared out while Buddhists (for the most part) remain in their homes. Furthermore, the Rohingya are politically powerless. They are denied citizenship in Burma and face a wide range of draconian restrictions on healthcare, schooling, travel even their ability to have children. The Buddhist population on the other hand face no comparable restrictions and why would they? They control the local and state government.

 

Muslims in Burma were troubled by several other references in her BBC interview. First, a reference to those Muslims who had managed to integrate has made many feel uncomfortable. Heres what she said: I would like to make the point that there are many moderate Muslims in Burma who have been well integrated into our society. Thats got many people asking whether she thinks Muslims have to acquire some sort of Burmeseness in order to be accepted. There is, of course, no such thing as a national identity in Burma. The constitution recognises 135 different ethnic groups

 

Secondly, Ms Suu Kyi seems to suggest that the violence was caused by Buddhists fear of what she calls global Muslim power, saying: You, I think, will accept that there is a perception that Muslim power, global Muslim power, is very great and certainly that is the perception in many parts of the world, and in our country too. This is dangerous territory for the Nobel Prize winner.

 

The Rohingya have not been linked with any acts of violence or pan-Arab extremist groups like al-Qaeda despite the desperate situation they find themselves in. If Burmese Buddhists perceive Muslim groups like the Rohingya to be part of a global Muslim power movement, it is incumbent on her, as a person with real moral authority, to correct that misconception.

 

Despite her comments, Ms Suu Kyi finds herself very much in demand. She has been in the UK this week visiting a long list of dignitaries, like the Prime Minister David Cameron and former leader Gordon Brown, as well as Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Today, Ms Suu Kyi travelled to Sandhurst military academy (see picture above) to deliver a speech and see the cadets training, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

 

Interestingly, Ms Suu Kyi wont be visiting any civil rights groups in London the organisations who supported her vigorously when she spent nearly two decades under house arrest. Nor is she expected to drop in on members of the sizeable Burmese community in the UK. To do so would lead to the sort of robust exchange of views that our modern-day saint now seems keen to avoid.

[Ah_Zai]

I'm certain there is a segment of Singaporeans who refused to recognise the hypocrisy of the westerners, and disagree with you. This is the same group who idolized the western concept but overlooked the pitfalls despite what history has taught us.

 

Know one chap in sch donkey years ago who fell in love with 'democracy' (who won't when you were young and naive? ) and volunteered with a liberal political party. Last met him in a gathering, he told me he did not stay long with the party because he realized it was more practical to focus on his full time job and he found the Ang Mohs he came across while with that party were demanding - one moment can joke and laugh over dinners, another moment dictating how things should be done. I teased him that he wasn't dedicated to his democracy cause enough Can't blame him. Now his car is bigger than mine and heard he got second milk some more KNS.

 

 

 

Let her and Myanmar do what is right for her country. Remember, Brits, Yanks, Europeans in general are bleeding heart liberals n hypocrites. Look at what's happening in their own countries. And they continue to preach. Judge. Criticise. Even start internal strife in countries like Syria n Libya. N close their eyes to their allies with lousy human rights records.

[Itali4must4ng]

I salute her for her resolve but we can see she's going all around the world prostituting herself to the Western world. She will probably end up as a Western liberal democracy proxy/puppet. She's not carving out her own brand of democracy in Myanmar but trying to replicate the pure and at times hypocritical form of liberal democracy in her country.

[Mockngbrd]

damned if u do damned if u don't

[Watwheels]

Seriously?....But this is what GCT thinks of her in 2009. http://www2.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=16506

 

"Goh told reporters at the Asia-Middle East Media Roundtable in Singapore that while the West sees Suu Kyi as the solution to Burma’s problems, she is also “part of problem” because she believes she is the government, according to Singapore’s Channel NewsAsia news network"

 

Macham saying she's a dictator.

[Thedream]

I'm not sure what problem we're finding with what she said?

[Maxus-MIFA9]

Her 4 decades of struggle had paid off by winning a landslide victory in Myanmar Election 2015............        

 

 

Yahoo : Myanmar transition to democracy on track after Suu Kyi win

 

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar's president has promised a peaceful transfer of power to the victorious party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in general elections, ensuring that the country's march toward greater democracy after decades of military rule will not be derailed.

 

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy said Wednesday it received a message from Information Minister Ye Htut on behalf of President Thein Sein congratulating it for leading the race for parliamentary seats in the Nov. 8 election.

 

Ye Htut said the government will pursue a peaceful transfer of power "in accordance with the legislated timeline." He was not immediately available for comment.

 

The message helps remove lingering concerns that the military, which has a large influence over the ruling party, may deny the NLD power, as it did after elections in 1990.

 

It also means that Myanmar is likely to soon have its first government in decades that isn't under the military's sway. But while an NLD victory virtually assures it of being able to elect the president as well, Suu Kyi remains barred from becoming president by a constitutional provision inserted by the military before it transferred power to a quasi-civilian government in 2011.

 

Suu Kyi has declared, however, that she will become the country's de facto leader, acting "above the president," if her party forms the next government.

 

She described that plan further in an interview Tuesday with Singapore's Channel NewsAsia television.

 

"I make all the decisions because I'm the leader of the winning party. And the president will be one whom we will choose just in order to meet the requirements of the constitution," she said. "He (the president) will have to understand this perfectly well that he will have no authority. That he will act in accordance with the positions of the party."

 

The military, which took power in a 1962 coup and brutally suppressed several pro-democracy uprisings during its rule, gave way to a nominally civilian elected government in 2011 — with strings attached.

 

It installed retired senior officers in the ruling party to fill Cabinet posts and gave itself key powers in the constitution, including control of powerful ministries and a quarter of the seats in the 664-member two-chamber Parliament. In a state of emergency, a special military-led body can even assume state powers. Another provision bars Suu Kyi from the presidency because her sons hold foreign citizenship.

 

While Myanmar's people voted overwhelmingly Sunday to remove the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party from power, it's clear that the army's involvement in politics won't end, and the NLD will need to convince it to cooperate.

 

 

more stories, link : https://sg.news.yahoo.com/myanmars-suu-kyi-wins-seat-presidency-reach-050438788.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lala81]

Aung San Suu Kyi is aware of the power of the military so they will play ball for years, then one day will overstep the boundaries set by the army, then the army will take over in a coup. Then rinse and repeat.

 

Just like thailand.

[Maxus-MIFA9]

Another report ......

 

 

Yahoo : Myanmar government vows to 'respect' election result

 

Myanmar's military-backed government vowed Wednesday to respect the country's election result despite staring at a poll wipeout, as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called for talks with the president and the powerful army chief.

 

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party is on the brink of a majority after it took over 85 percent of the seats declared so far.

 

Although poll officials are yet to announce the NLD as winners, Myanmar's balance of power, dominated for half a century by the army and its allies, appears poised to be redrawn.

 

But Suu Kyi's supporters remain anxious at how the army and its allies will respond to its mauling, with memories still keen of the 1990 election -- won by the NLD but then swatted away by the junta.

 

In the first official reaction by the army-backed ruling party, Information Minister Ye Htut congratulated the NLD on its gains so far and vowed to "respect and obey the decision of the electorate".

 

"We will work peacefully in the transfer" of responsibilities to the winning party, he said in a letter posted on Facebook, adding talks with Suu Kyi could be held after the official result is announced.

 

By nightfall the NLD had scooped up 256 seats, 73 shy of an outright majority -- but it was almost certain to smash through that marker.

 

 

Link : https://sg.news.yahoo.com/suu-kyi-calls-talks-myanmar-army-chief-president-050706389.html

 

[Beregond]

Thailand is right beside only, and I remember thaksin is voted by their ppl too, no matter the Controversy  behind.

things are not as easy as it seem.

[Mockngbrd]

Another report ......

 

 

Yahoo : Myanmar government vows to 'respect' election result

 

Myanmar's military-backed government vowed Wednesday to respect the country's election result despite staring at a poll wipeout, as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called for talks with the president and the powerful army chief.

 

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party is on the brink of a majority after it took over 85 percent of the seats declared so far.

 

Although poll officials are yet to announce the NLD as winners, Myanmar's balance of power, dominated for half a century by the army and its allies, appears poised to be redrawn.

 

But Suu Kyi's supporters remain anxious at how the army and its allies will respond to its mauling, with memories still keen of the 1990 election -- won by the NLD but then swatted away by the junta.

 

In the first official reaction by the army-backed ruling party, Information Minister Ye Htut congratulated the NLD on its gains so far and vowed to "respect and obey the decision of the electorate".

 

"We will work peacefully in the transfer" of responsibilities to the winning party, he said in a letter posted on Facebook, adding talks with Suu Kyi could be held after the official result is announced.

 

By nightfall the NLD had scooped up 256 seats, 73 shy of an outright majority -- but it was almost certain to smash through that marker.

 

 

Link : https://sg.news.yahoo.com/suu-kyi-calls-talks-myanmar-army-chief-president-050706389.html

PAP also respects Worker Party

[Lala81]

Thailand is right beside only, and I remember thaksin is voted by their ppl too, no matter the Controversy  behind.

things are not as easy as it seem.

 

Where there is a strong army who's tasted power, the temptation is always to seize power when things are not going their way.

 

Say for example, when the new government decide they want to cut the army's budget to do more things ... 

[Ktglfc]

Hope the reforms will continue to gather pace... and a vibrant Myanmar's economy will only be good for the entire south-east Asian countries :)

[Watwheels]

But will history repeat itself like in 1990 whereby elections results were denied by the military? Will she be under house arrest again?

[Lala81]

But will history repeat itself like in 1990 whereby elections results were denied by the military? Will she be under house arrest again?

 

Well the army can always step in later. But unlike thailand whereby the army is "loyal" to the king. There's no national figurehead in myanmar for that.

[Joseph22]

Seriously?....But this is what GCT thinks of her in 2009. http://www2.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=16506

 

"Goh told reporters at the Asia-Middle East Media Roundtable in Singapore that while the West sees Suu Kyi as the solution to Burma’s problems, she is also “part of problem” because she believes she is the government, according to Singapore’s Channel NewsAsia news network"

 

Macham saying she's a dictator.

 

I know is old news. But just want to say base on the article. What he meant is assk need to know that her mandate is 19 years ago and need to revalidate instead of thinking she is one. Anyway she won. Hope Myanmar the best under new government.

[Lala81]

It is a relief for Myanmar and the region with the recent development. Though, be cautious that Aung San is not magic. There are known long standing racial conflicts which she may even be part of the problem.

 

How can be magic. She's spent most of her life under house arrest.

She's really just a figurehead. I don't expect her to know how to govern a country.

Decide budget, planning meetings etc.

 

in all honesty, the generals whom she's replacing is probably more capable than her.

 

She's a capable politican. But is she capable of good governance. Big question mark.

Edited November 12, 2015 by Lala81