The Importance of Aung San Suu Kyi

The opening of Myanmar has been on the news for several weeks, if not months now. Slowly, the world will know more than Aung San Suu Kyi. But for now, let us talk about this lady who is the embodiment of Myanmar itself. I may be wrong in making this conjecture but many people seem to have this question: “If Aung San Suu Kyi was such a threat to the military junta, why did the military never consider eliminating her?” I am sure the military considered this option but never really got to the path of executing it. Why?

First was the domestic consideration. Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of General Aung San, who became a strong symbol of opposition to the military after he was assassinated. The military was afraid that if something untoward was to happen to Aung San Suu Kyi as well, it would galvanize the opposition to such a level that even they would not be able to handle despite having the advantage of firepower.

Second was the international consideration. Through the sheer effort of Michael Aris, the late husband of Aung San Suu Kyi, she became and still is the face of Myanmar to the world. As such, the policies of the external powers, notably the Western world, were very much tied to their assessments of how Aung San Suu Kyi was treated by the regime. If they carried things too far, the international pressure could be so strong that their existence itself could not be guaranteed.

Although power has been transferred to the nominally civilian government, there is no doubt that the military still lurks in the background. The chances of them reading this entry is very slim but if they do, I hope they will consider the implications of their action if the thought of eliminating Aung San Suu Kyi ever comes again.