Washington Post's Editorial On Aung

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Burma's Desperate Generals
Wednesday, July 29, 1998; Page A20
SINCE LAST Friday a seemingly frail but spiritually indomitable woman
has been blockaded inside her car on a rural highway in Burma. Aung San
Suu Kyi, 53, rightful leader of her Southeast Asian nation, had set out from
her home in the capital to meet with a political supporter in the provinces.
But the general-thugs who have hijacked the leadership of Burma, fearing
her popularity and the serene certainty with which she battles for
democracy, have blocked the road. They refuse to let her move forward,
and Aung San Suu Kyi -- insisting on her right to travel and meet with
colleagues -- refuses to go back.
She would no doubt be surprised to learn, then, if the message could reach
her isolated vehicle, that she "is not a captive." This is one of the
contentions of the junta's representative to Washington in a letter to the
editor published on this page today. It is no surprise that the letter is full
of
half-truths about the extent of her freedom, the ability of foreign diplomats
and journalists to visit her and so forth (yes, she could leave the country,
but the thugs would undoubtedly prevent her return). Nor is it new that the
generals vilify her in personal terms; back home, in the domestic press they
totally control, they have called this devout Buddhist mother "deranged," a
"modern-day ogress" and a sexual predator.
What is interesting is the desperation reflected in their decision to bring
their slanderous campaign overseas. Interesting, but again not surprising,
for the generals have driven their country (which they call Myanmar)
virtually into the ground. What was once one of Asia's most promising
nations, rich in natural resources and blessed with an educated and
hard-working population, is a disaster, with an average annual income of
maybe $200 to $300 per person. Universities are shuttered because the
rulers fear their own students. The junta can buy the services of public
relations firms in Washington and the loyalty of U.S. oil and timber
companies eager for contracts, but it knows that it has no legitimacy at
home.
This is true above all because Burma conducted an election in 1990, and
Aung San Suu Kyi won. Although she was already under house arrest at
the time, her National League for Democracy won four out of every five
parliamentary seats. Most people in Burma, in other words, apparently did
not deem her a "disgruntled housewife," nor was her marriage to an
Englishman considered a stain on her character. It is the generals, refusing
to honor the election results, who can be accused of "coveting power at all
costs."
Remarkably, though, despite nearly a decade of confinement and
harassment, of seeing her colleagues imprisoned and tortured, sometimes
to death, Aung San Suu Kyi has never returned the insults. Consistently,
she calls for dialogue and compromise; contrary to the ambassador's letter,
she insists only on the rule of law. Now, in keeping with that principle, she
is calling for the true parliament to be convened by Aug. 21. Alone in her
sun-baked vehicle on that country road, she is in the right, and she
deserves support for her campaign.
© Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company