Aung San Suu Kyi

Portrait by Htein Lin
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“I would rather go down then let them down”
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The sparkles in her eyes are searching. Her resilient smile, comforting. The flowers she wares, unfading. Her language, simple, yet curtailed. She has walked a tough, arduous journey of silent forbearance. She shoulders the legacy of her father, Augn San, who brought independence to Burma against the colonial rule, around the same time that India was negotiating independence from Britain in 1947. He was assassinated soon after, when Suu Kyi was just two. She shoulders the will of her mother, Daw Khin Kyi, who held various offices, and one being ambassador of India in 1960.

Above all, Aung San Suu Kyi shoulders the hope and freedom of the people of Myanmar, who have known nothing except brutal force of subjugation, oppression, and imprisonment through the decades of imperial rule, and now a dictatorial rule that comes from within. There are many analogies, references and dichotomies strung together, in sharp contrast, thus making the entire fresco of Burma/Myanmar intriguing:
One begins with the name Burma that was re-named to Myanmar by the Junta in defiance of the “colonial name-calling”, only to re-colonize it with a new name!
Ragoon (now changed to Yangon), was where George Orwell first took up his position as Police Officer with the Indian Imperial Police, and before long decided to abandon the white man’s burden. The Orwellian world lives on through the subjugation of its people, with Big Brother holding to ransom a country that was (is) known for its natural resources and wealth (today despite the poverty of its people, Big Brother is rich and powerful).


It is a land where Theravada Buddhism is the religion of the many. The essence of Buddhism is lost in such a state. The Buddha’s message of right action, right through, and right mindfulness is not of any importance, and the Junta would do everything it can to subdue the voices of the peaceful monks. However, this is the very religion that gives Aung San Suu Kyi her strength and resolve to fight for her people. She has held on to this, through her 14 years of detention out of the 16 years she has lived in Rangoon. She will hold on to it, through the 5 years of possible imprisonment she is certain will befall her.

Military force, doublespeak, newspeak, and media control are a sure alternative to hold the country at gunpoint, “where all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” (George Orwell, Animal Farm). The world, in spite of superpowers like the UN, the Developed countries, India (the next super power) has done little to convince, or impose sanctions to such a dictatorial state. The revolution in media, networking and communication has fallen shot of generating a world outcry. Aung San Suu Kyi is merely a minute of news-byte. Such news is utterly conspicuous. The world needs to do much more. The world must realize that “in our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia...”, and if there is a truism in what Orwell said, then we must ensure we do everything to support the cause of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Sanctions have done little to stop the Junta, and China ironically is a strong ally of the government of Burma. It is the only country that influences the Junta, thanks to the rich trade agreement with Burma that China stands to gain. The difference in governance is hardly a contrast between the two nations!


Aung San Suu Kyi is a Nobel Laurite. She is also the recipient of the prestigious United State’s Congressional Gold Medal. She is the FIRST to hold these awards when in solitary confinement. Her courage is the result of holding on to the core Gandhian principles of nonviolence – derived also by Buddhism. Her fight is for nothing else but democracy for Burma. It comes from an understanding of the world around her, and of what is best for the country in the long run.


Democracy may not come to Burma in her lifetime, yet she will fight until her end.
“The process of change is slow, and does not realize in ones lifetime, but surely the impact is the greatest for times to come. The nonviolent approach is the most difficult approach in the world, especially nowadays when weaponry is getting more powerful.”


She realizes that only in a democratic country will there be equal rights for every human being on the land. A stop-gap arrangement is not what she will settle for. She must not. Despite the upheavals Burma faces, it needs to follow India’s example of its relentless years of struggle for democracy and independence form hegemonic powers. It is because India is a democracy that clearly the military has kept away (unlike its dual -Pakistan). Burma cannot allow anything less for itself. She states that “there is a vast difference between a man in a gun in his hands, than a man or a woman without a gun… the man with a gun, will use the weapon, but the man or woman without a gun would have the urge to depend more on intellectual consideration, and exercise ones compassion…”


The world needs to act fast. Aung San Suu Kyi is frail in health. The possibility of serving 5 years imprisonment could be fatal. This is the time for the world to come together, to ensure she is able to lead her country to peace and flourish, to justice and human rights, to self-governance and prosperity.


In her house, in confinement, Aung San Suu Kyi plays the piano that is heard by passer-by, who heaves a sign of relief to know that she is around. That there is hope. That change will come one day. The notes from the piano must not stop. The world must not allow the piano to grow silent…

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“Even those in power now in Rangoon, must know that their eventual fate will be that of all totalitarian regimes who seek to impose their authority through fear repression and hatred “- Suu Kyi’s Nobel speech

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In the quiet land of Burma

In the quiet land of Burma...
no one laughs and no one thinks out loud.
you can hear it in the silence of the crowd


In the Quiet Land, no one can say
when the soldiers are coming
to carry them away.
The Chinese want a road; the French want the oil;
the Thais take the timber; and SLORC takes the spoils...


In the Quiet Land....
In the Quiet Land, no one can hear
what is silenced by murder
and covered up with fear.
But, despite what is forced, freedom's a sound
that liars can't fake and no shouting can drown.