Aung San Suu Kyi ;Touching the untouchable of Burma

According to the latest global surveys, Burma is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries on this planet earth. At the same time Burma, known as Myanmar, is one of the most famous countries of this world for the reason that the resource rich country with very tolerant people was subject to abuse of world’s most brutal regime. Burma is also famous because of her prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel laurite, who was just released from never ending sentence of house arrest during last 20 years.

During a last couple of days, her name became headlines of media again, as she was released from House arrest. She became a national icon and some likened her, as a beacon of hope for Burmese people.

Why ?

She is the leader of few Burmese who dare to touch the untouchable; Military rulers of Burma. Perhaps it is difficult for the outsiders, to understand the weird atmosphere created by Military Junta, who elevated themselves into super elite group of Burma at gun point to its people for five decades. Burmese people have done their duty when there was a chance to rise up against the tyrants, but almost all events ended in tragic ways.

“Our Army shoot to kill people, we will not raise the barrels of guns to sky” was the chilling reminder to Burmese people by late dictator Ne Win, just before the popular, 1988 uprising. Estimated 3000 people lost their lives during brutal suppression by Burmese Army; thousands more disappeared without news until now.

Aung San Su Kyi famous words “Freedom from fear” is meant for Burmese people who were living with fear for generations. It does not mean that Burmese people have less courage, but the true fact is “ Fear Factor” in Burma is too much to titrate with courage of normal people, unless they have a leader who is without fear.

Aung San Suu Kyi,who is  a daughter of National Hero General Aung San, was born to be a leader without fear. Her father’s  love and sacrifice for the country is still very much alive and active with- in the blood of determined soft spoken lady.

She is well aware of her risk, but chose the peaceful way to bipartisanship with Military Junta. She said she is looking for national reconciliation, easy to understand for all of us who love nothing but peace.

But, Burmese Military has metamorphosed from dictator to the level of  super Monster dictators who could approve a referendum of a constitution that approve Military Dictatorship forever , while 200,000 people died because of Cyclone Nargis that left millions of people homeless.

Person like Zarganar was sentenced to several decades in Jail, just for merely helping Cyclone affected people. Zaragnar is a well-known actor, director in entertainment sector of Burma. How about more than 2000 political prisoners who were not known to us? They have suffered in isolated jails of Burma, while family members were quietly suffering and facing financial woes to family disintegration.

For the Generals and their cronies, life is too good with the billion dollar income from oil and gas, quietly siphoned into their pockets during past two decades. They got what they wanted, living in luxury in the world poorest country. They try to stay in power forever by using whatever means they have. They spent billions of US Dollars to build the tunnels in their new capital Nay Pyi Taw. The name of the new capital itself explained that Generals do not think themselves as soldiers anymore, because the name Nay Pyi Taw in Burmese, means capital of the king. Once a group of soldiers with weapons started to thinking like Burmese Kings, who were traditionally accepted as owner of a person’s body and soul( absolute monarchy), they will never feel guilty for the whatever atrocities they have done to ordinary people of Burma! These acts , they will assume as  their rights. Soothsayers and fortune tellers would be always around them to justify and satisfy their acts by blaming fate of poor people.

The Lady, who is western educated, brought up among intellectuals of Oxford never fail to understand the psyche  of the rulers and people of her poor motherland,  where the path has derailed from her father’s vision of  USA of Southeast Asia.

By touching the untouchable of Burma, she believes that she can bring democracy to Burma. By engaging in peaceful manner, she believes that she can unite the people of Union of Burma to reconcile. But her road ahead is fill with pitfalls and traps, and she is ready to face all these challenges with “ Freedom from Fear” that she believes.

Sit Mone

( Dedicated to my hero Daw Aung San Suu Kyi)