Pic courtesy: http://www.eskimofriends.com
Is Suu Kyi’s release just a symbolic gesture?
- Thara Tlau
The military junta in Burma has done once again a maverick political manoeuver by releasing its arch rival and political foe the lady Aung San Suu Kyi from her detention. Though it’s a positive sign and a welcoming signal on reformation the military has promised, it’s too odd a timing the lady has been released, after the general election in which Suu Kyi herself was debarred from contesting.
The army-drafted constitution which automatically provides 25% seats to the military in the parliament was approved in a "referendum" by 92% in which there was a voter turnout of 99%! What on earth could this statistic tell us? With a population of 500 million let us assume conservatively that 200 million are eligible voters and if 99% of 200 million i.e. 198 million voters had cast vote, only 2 million voters had abstained from voting which is just an absurdity. By history, it’s always abnormal when voters’ turnout is more than 80% in an election or referendum of that scale. This is one of the hundred uncanny ways the military government has taken to uphold its prowess in the country. It is under the aegis of this crooked constitution the just concluded general election was held which the military claimed to have received about 80% votes.
The election has been widely disputed and condemned as a sham worldwide; and it has put into limelight the prevailing conditions in Burma and the highhandedness of the military government once again. To re-fashion the faux pas and to divert the focus of the international community the military accepted the “expiry” of Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention on Saturday and released her without “restrictions” on her movements and activities which could have been the other way round as her previous releases from detentions or house arrests have been shrouded with conditions.
The release of Suu Kyi is another wisely crafted political coup of the military which has already disbanded her from contesting elections through the provisions of the new constitution and which has also dissolved Suu Kyi’s party the NLD (National League for Democracy) after boycotting the election. The “unconditional” release is unlikely to have much bearing on the political scene of the country because Suu Kyi’s political activities have been indirectly barred via the constitution. So, by showing the world it has done something sensible to cheer for, the military has done it from the shadow of insensible legislations to demean its true worth.
*
2 comments:
Without a doubt, I believe Suu Kyi's release is just a symbolic gesture to show the world that the government had done something rational which could be applauded! Perhaps the Government felt confident enough to control her supporters after the election!
@Maisek: The international community including the military's strongest ally China is sure about that. Even India with its tall claim as the largest democracy can't dare to annoy the military govt with it's distorted "look east" policy with an eye on the mineral wealth of Burma which only China has a free hand in exploring so far.
New Delhi is more than willing to give a red-carpet welcome to the visiting generals from the ruling junta anytime. This is a paradigm shift from our previous foreign policy looking back to the '70s and '80s. With it's two biggest neighbours on its side the military govt has an upper hand in dealing with its internal situation.
Post a Comment