Burmese Language
Is it foolish to criticise Aung San Suu Kyi?
As Aung San Suu Kyi jets across the US to collect further accolades, she continues to attract criticism over Burma’s persecuted minorities. The past few months have been increasingly coloured by her silence on the stateless Rohingya minority, viewed as “illegal Bengali immigrants” by many Burmese, while US Kachin groups boycotted her Congressional award ceremony in protest of the ongoing conflict in Northern Burma.
Speaking to reporters last week, she continued to feed the critics by claiming that her political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), could not weigh into the Rohingya debate, because they are not the party in government – a statement perhaps as ludicrous as it seemed insincere.
But according to some of her international supporters it could do more harm than good to criticise Burma’s leading democracy champion at this time.
“In this fragile transition, too much public criticism of her is not necessarily helpful,” Benedict Rogers, East Asia Team Leader at Christian Solidarity Worldwide, told DVB in an interview. “In my view, it is more useful to express concerns privately and constructively.”
Rogers argues that it is in the best interest of Burma’s pro-democracy movement to support Suu Kyi and the NLD in the run-up to the 2015 elections, as they are best placed to challenge the military’s supremacy in parliament.
“Suu Kyi and the NLD have for over 20 years been the primary representatives of the movement for democracy and the primary opposition to the regime,” explains Rogers. “She personally and the NLD as a whole are absolutely crucial to the transition.”
This is certainly true. But what is less clear is how they would benefit the stateless Rohingya, who are widely reviled even within the NLD. Reports suggest that foreign leaders, including UK Foreign Minister William Hague and the Dalai Lama have both privately urged Suu Kyi to confront the Rohingya issue, but it has fallen on deaf ears.
Meanwhile other senior figures, including party spokesperson Nyan Win and founding member Win Tin have unequivocally declared that the Rohingya cannot be considered Burmese citizens.
Suu Kyi has faced similar criticisms over Burma’s myriad ethnic conflicts, notably for her failure to condemn the army’s ongoing assault on Kachin state. Unlike the Rohingya issue, there seems to be little obvious political capital in her silence. Some analysts have speculated that by working with the government, she has lost her ability to challenge them. Or perhaps it is simply not one of her immediate priorities. Either way, it seems unreasonable to wait three years to ask the Nobel peace laureate to speak out.
“The trust in her [Suu Kyi] has gone down,” Shan democracy activist Khun Htun Oo told reporters in Washington DC on Thursday. “If she goes on like this she will not represent the people. She does not say anything for the public.”
It is also important not to overcook the political significance of the 2015 elections. Although the NLD could be in a position to form a government, the 2008 constitution guarantees the military a firm hand in public policy. Unless the NLD and opposition forces secure every single parliamentary seat up for grabs, they will still be unable to amend the undemocratic 2008 legislation without the military’s support. Suu Kyi and the NLD will still have to cooperate with the Tatmadaw.
The democracy icon is herself precluded from being elected president in 2015 under the constitution, given her two sons’ foreign citizenship, a provision likely drafted with her disadvantage in mind. While she would certainly assume a senior position in government in the event of the NLD’s victory, blindly backing Suu Kyi nonetheless translates into wholesale political support of the Burman-led party.
This logic feeds into a binary understanding of Burmese politics, which has for years been dominated by a “good guys versus bad guys” paradigm that ignores ethnic and other domestic complexities. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is itself split between reformists and hardliners, which the recent constitutional tribunal dispute has illuminated. Unlike the NLD, there is even a Rohingya member of parliament.
The past few weeks have also begun to reveal internal fractures within the NLD, as a number of grassroots members have hit back at its “authoritarian” political leadership, resulting in the suspension of several of them.
“The NLD is looking to become a ruling democratic party after the 2015 elections, it is necessary for us to speak out on these issue contradicting democratic standards,” said Dr Than Htike, who was recently suspended for publicly accusing the party’s Central Committee of power centralisation and factionalism.
The reality is that the NLD, like the USDP, are both relatively new political parties with limited experience handling a democratic process. Both should be subject to scrutiny and encouraged to reform. In a transitional democracy currently dominated by the personal dynamics of two ageing politicians, this should not be a tough sell.
“It is absolutely necessary to criticise her now, in the run-up to the 2015 election, and after,” Bertil Lintner, veteran journalist and author of several books on Burma, told DVB. “Part of the problem in Burma today, and which could be her downfall, is that she is surrounded by sycophants who don’t dare to tell her when they think she is wrong. They don’t even dare to give her meaningful advice.”
Over the next three years, the focus should be on developing healthy political institutions and empowering the people of Burma to take ownership of the democratisation process. While domestic voices are particularly important, the international community also has a role. This can, and must, include challenging the leadership of all political parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
Tags: aung san suu kyi, ceasefires, Elections, Kachin State, NLD, reform, rohingya
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Yes, DASSK needs to be criticized. Especially her party does. Look at her talks in the US. She just seeks to attract the crowds by her personality and charisma which are not enough. She never talks about her party in detail and journalists don’t dare ask her about her weak party due to fear of the backlash by the people who are crazy about DASSK. Burma needs to be free from such extreme personality politics to become democratic and develop. It is still too far!
with which Myanma Christians are these international people, having “christian solidarity”?
Or are they just sticking their noses into the affairs of a nation which has sovereignty and self-determination?
Did these internationals know that colonialism is already finished?
Aung San Suu Kyi is like any other politician she was quite happy to accept the fight by the Rohingya Muslims in Burma and around the World of whom had the naive view that she would fight in their corner. Now the prize of potential Government is in her sight; she is willing to sacrifice the lives of Men Women and Children all because she is afraid of losing the Buddhist majority vote. These days they seem to give Nobel prizes to all sorts including those who show by their outward character a lack of right to such a prize. As for the elite of America and its tail wagging media well they are propagating a heroic dream like reality in substance of which does not exist of this woman with blood on her hands. Sad really….I wonder when America (the Elite; not the decent down to Earth majority)will wake up the fact that the rest of this world find their dance in rather bad taste.
NLD is not the government therefore we should not think that they can do everything under the Sun. Myanmar are marching to peaceful democracy system and we have look at our own people’s interest and prospers first.
Not for us to judge other people without knowing what is the real situation is going on.
Rohingya should have more responsible themselves to find way to solve the problem instead of thinking of themselves as victim.
I agree that Suu Kyi is a naive politician even she used to be very popular about
her work.
“But according to some of her international supporters it could do more harm than good to criticise Burma’s leading democracy”
I ‘ m one of the many Dassk supporters who believe that weakening her position right now could bring bolder move by the hardliners and the many who appear to be pro burmanization initiated by the still powerful military networks! so be aware of shaking the reform process amazingly successful and relatively stable!
Suu Kyi does not need to worry for losing her votes from Buddhist Rakhines if she stands by persecuted Rohingyas because she never be President or vice-president of Burma until the 2008 constitution is existed in forced. Thein Sein is using her just a MP in order to deceiving the western for lifting sanctions.
Nurul
NLD is not the government nor ASSK is the president. But she is the opposition leader of the party. So she should speak like the opposition leader and make the government accountable. Not going to bed with them..
Rohingyas’ issues can be a secondary topic for Aung San Suu Kyi to take care of at this time and she can be silent on the issues. It is right not to put the issue as a priority one; since Rohingyas are considered as Bengalis immigrants and should be treated as migrants issue in the future parliamentary discussion. Aung San Suu Kyi herself cannot be a mother GOD on every single issue.
But when it comes to Kachin’s refugee issues and armed conflict in the north, this must not be kept as a secondary issue. Kachin is one of the indigenous peoples of the country. Burma has failed to become a democratic country is obviously has to do with the failure of recognizing the ethnic peoples’ rights for more than sixty decades. If Aung San Suu Kyi keeps silent on the ethnic issues and is only concerning about her political role in a narrowly define parliament, then her ability to become a national leader will continue leading to the dark side despite getting international awards and medias attention around her circle. Democracy process in Burma cannot be successful without ethnic people issues discussed as equal as any other issues that are on priority list. If Aung San Suu Kyi continues to be silence on the ethnic issues and cconflicts in political transitional process at this time, Aung San Suu Kyi’s role will be less popular among ethnic people and concluded as a leader of Burman, not ethnic anymore.
Just because things doesn’t goes your way, you want to criticize her. I can’t believe you guys are so narrow minded and you want Democracy, right? In a real Democratic country, not even the president cannot do what he feels like. It has to go by rules of law. I was wondering if you have the power to ask all your family members and friends to follow your needs? I don’t think so. Anyway, Rohingya is not a Burmese nationality and if these people want to live in Burma, you have to go by Burmese law. In order to say ASSK is naive, people who say so are the ones who have no clue how the world works. So narrow minded and clueless people who are lost. That’s why, there’s a proverb saying that people get what they deserve. No wonder, Burma was ruled by the Military Government for so long because of these kind of narrow minded people.
I also agree with Aung Soe Lwin.
To those who are criticizing her…
If you don’t like her, try to lead the country by yourself in your way. Let’s see who will follow you.
Freedom of Speech! Everybody has it .However you are being asked “please say “a name” of a person who led in fighting & resisting the evil forces for our recently achieved freedom of speech like that”….? Please do not mess up with your own history.
Thein Sein is not telling truth.
Suu Kyi is not good enough either.
People in burma are so blind to see the truth.
She is just a rookie as well as all in Myanmar parliament are rookies.
The challenges Myanmar is encountering are tremendous but not insurmountable. The country in fact, is better off than many other nations where there are on-going wars, sectarian violence, mass killings and indiscriminate suicidal bombings. Anyone can criticize without reason, without good faith. Nobody knows exactly what democracy is. Not even the Americans. Let President U Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Su Kyi carry on what is good for the country.
Telling a baby to run when it cannot even stand up on its own two feet?. After all teach a baby to walk, not run.
Burmese people rely on one hero to make their faith come true. If they continue having this hero worship culture, democracy practice in Burma will be hard for them to experience. Very simple thing to point out, whenever people start criticizing against Aung San Suu Kyi. They are not ready to accept those critics as apart of democracy development. Burmese people are narrow minded people because of their experience in democracy is still young and limited. Criticizing Aung San Suu Kyi is not acceptable for them at this time. So let not say anything about ASSK before democracy is fully deployed. To make those HERO worshipers happy. Let see how and what type of democracy they want to architect. Good Luck!
Most Burmese from the “ruling class” are opportunistic hypocrites, who know how to sit on the fence to wait and see which way the wind is blowing before they take sides. Suu Kyi (putting your father’s name in front of your name is done only by Burmese with famous “ruling-class fathers” lol) is no exception to the rule (or shall I say the rule of law lol).
My IP address is blocked by the DEMOCRATIC voice of Burma.
Free speech indeed!
Foolish to criticise DASSK? It ought not to be necessary even to ask this question. We should never ever promote excessive centralisation and it is our duty to speak out.
Suu Kyi has proven herself to be yet another sly, opportunist politician who did not deserve any of the awards bestowed on her. They were given with certain expectations to deliver, which she miserably failed. Her equivocation on the persecution of the Rohingya people and denial of citizenship rights are always going to remain as serious flaws in judgment.
@ tocharian says:
September 27, 2012 at 4:34 am
Most Burmese from the “ruling class” are opportunistic hypocrites, who know how to sit on the fence to wait and see which way the wind is blowing before they take sides. Suu Kyi (putting your father’s name in front of your name is done only by Burmese with famous “ruling-class fathers” lol) is no exception to the rule (or shall I say the rule of law lol).
Right on! I thought I’d never agreed with your comments.
can u do what she does for the nation. ask yourself first
is suu kyi trying to be a copycat?
tocharian says:
September 27, 2012 at 4:36 am My IP address is blocked by the DEMOCRATIC voice of Burma.
Free speech indeed!
r u being made a monkey?
how come u can say it now?
Daw Suu and NLD should be a lot things to re-analysis their policies of they want victory 2015 election. As my vision she will not more popular as before in coming days. Because she is trying to closing so much in the line of government and military side. we can never forget military crime. Crime is crime which we can not forgive and it directly concern Burma future justice and equality . Her silences of human right violent on Rohingya minority people in Arakan and Kachin war conflict and etc. which are we never expect from her. we pray alot her while she was house arrest and worked her release but now the result which we saw her today is so sad. It is times to say her do not lost your way of democracy and human right equality for all without discrimination races and religious.
I agree no man is perfect.But who else is the most trusted and suited leader for future Burma? It is Aung San Suukyi. She is the only one that can be trusted by all minorities and armed resistance groups. That is the fact. Another is she and her party are not yet a government.
But I think people are expecting her to act as a government. She may be or will be in the next election if the Thein Sein government is going the right track.
Right now, she is just an icon of democracy and the hope of Burma.
I think we should understand this situation.
It is ok to criticize ASSK, but the criticisms are all unwise and personal biased without much good arguments.
I agree Richard Tynn and MM. Burma just started to demorcratic reform and people in Burma have started to demand unreasonably and fight like animals now. Shan Khun Htoon needs to be patient, and Kachin too. Otherwise, you all will get the same status under the military. If you don’t trust ASSK, who can you trust in Burma. If you don’t want ASSK to lead the country, who is qualified to lead the country? Kachin leader? Shan leader? No way! Don’t be so suspicious about ASSK. She is very clever and her move in the politics are for the long run. Just patiently wait. IF not, go back to hell with the army and you guy deserve it.ASSK is very fair person. At this point, she can do only so much. Come on, give her a break. So stupid people are in our country. Just imagine Burma without ASSK? you guys do not appreciate ASSK for the present status of free speech you are having so much. Just shut up and wait patiently to see the fruits of reform.
Yes, Thein Sein seems to be honest and finally we found out he did not tell the truth in the interview with Asia Society recently. He is a hypocritical.
So what can you do? ASSK is cleverly associating with these bad guys. Do you think an Oxford graduate ASSK is stupid??Yes,those whoever criticizes her are the ones really foolish to do so and very narrow sighted people. It has nothing to do with Burmanism or discriminiation against ethnic minority.
Regarding Rohingya, you must first aruge and prove to get the official status as the ethnic of Burma. Then you accuse ASSK for not helping ethnic Rohingya. Make sense?
To Daw Suu,
The ends never justifies the means.
Yes. It is a good time to criticize Daw Su. She and her party is an opposition party. For that she and her party should clearly understand their role not to go on well with the government.
Gingery is not how climate change will put its foot in the door of human enterprise or wishes.. Honors at London or Washington; ideas of honor and justice, of economic and politic right and wrong direction – essentially change happening is on back of mind of every person on Earth
From my point of view, thousands of people have been sacrificed their lives for students and NLD party since 1988. But , what are the results now? What will all those honest people get at last do you think?I think they don’t understand the real situations of Burma politics.
The living cost and foods price are increasing day in day out.Young graduates become jobless. In addition, a lot of Myanmar young ladies are working as prostitutes( in contract) in China. The government has been lying people very systematically and wickedly. At the same time, the cronies have been becoming more legalized on their properties and richness.At that time, DASSK becomes more popular than before personally. Furthermore, million of farmers lose their land and properties which they collect by their sweat and blood.The government is speeding up to hand over all state businesses to their parties ( cronies and cronies to be) as their own properties.
Who can stop all these ? The lady can’t stand herself at present and also using a lot of supporting words to the dirty government even she knows all the public real conditions.Besides that, all ‘ 88 ‘ members are trying to transfer money from people to people ( doing charity funds) instead of pointing out and confronting to the government for the public and students. They are being made fools by this sly ruling parties. Some of them are foolishly preparing for 2005 election. Because of these manners and words, the government rejoice on them and the real democracy will be million miles far at present.
At last, they shouldn’t be loose canons .
Yes, we should criticize ASSK. This is what she advocates “freedom of speech! Hopefully she can gracefully take the criticism.
People should study real history of Burma not the history written by uneducated, racist and selfish people under dictator Ne Win. They destroyed the authentic history of Rohingya.
What can Su Kyi do if the conflict is State sponsored. The ruling military party is doing this to appease the Arakanese and Buddhist Monks to win the vote in next G.Election. If ASSK confronts then she will lose the vote. These are all politics. I dont see any democracy coming to Burma for another 5 to 8 years. Foreign investors have started doing business with cronies family members. The west particulary UK will keep silence due to commercial purpose. Thein Sein is playing a big game & fooling the international community. Both communities are suffering because of these dirty politics. Burma’s image is gone so low and the respect it lost is inimaginable. Whoever I met in UK the first question was why the buddish burmese are killing the Rohingyas?
Why the Monks are involved in this communal conflict ?
Nobody knows the fact whats going on the ground. The only answer to this mankind is to pray for them and for peace. For nearly 50 years Burma has acheived nothing but atrocities in the hand of its own Army.
Ms. Su Kyi, be wise to win your vote, do not forget how many Muslims stood for your release. How many Muslims were killed when hand to hand fights for democracy. You are not the only one but you are the visible one. Will you also say Burmese Muslims are from India.
How about history of Burmese, does it belong to China or India? Who is the ancestor, where do they descend from. Yes when your ancestors are from China you will write history differently than those real kings and queens of Burma. Go read U Kalaa- Jee Myanmar Yaa-zawin history book once prescribed in Burmese University before the military took over.
HellOoo, Brother DVB!! You allowed the comments insulting our respected Burmese political leaders made by Kalars with muslim names, but you think my comments are not allowable. Why can’t I have the right to criticize Rohingya??? Very Undemocratic!!!! >.<
Ya….Hoooo….In Burmese (Myanmar) politics it’s always POSITION POSITION POSITION,every1 knows it,once u get there nothing else matters.Only how much u can line ur pockets.I want 2 know what did ASSK do 4 the country, B 4 her aresst? OH YEAH..She’s Aung San’s daughter.Don’t 4get that. it’s the people who put her 4ward with great expectations.That included the Karens,Bama’s,Chin’s,Mons, Kachins & all the others.Oh.. don’t 4get all those ROHINGA’S who live in Arakan State “SUPPORTED” her 2.Being in opposition gives u the right 2 speaK out.THATS THE WHOLE IDEA OF BEING IN OPPOSITION.Not giving EXCUSES, of not being in GOVERMENT.If that’s ASSK’s “EXCUSE” it’s as lame as she is,then she dosn’t know why she is in “POLITICS”. She may need 2 change her occupation.May b a PROFESSIONAL ICON… I surgess.Most of her awards & accolades were given 2 her when she was under HOUSE ARREST.Why was she under HOUSE ARREST? I dare ask? Not because she was a THREAT 2 the then “JUNTA”.Did any1 think the JUNTA was SCARED of her. It was 4 her own “SAFETY FIRST”.What the people did not realise was, some “NUTTER” could have done what Mrs Butto suffered.The whole world felt sorry 4 her.So did I. But I have 2 say I did not c any thing constructive that she did 4 the people then. And now when SHE IS REALLY NEEDED it’s been a FIZZER.
Now all of u who read this don’t jump up & down.Call me names.Think I’m stupid.Like every1 I am trying 2 find out who can give me the most LOGICAL answer,statement,& the best EXCUSE for all her NO ACTION on important matters,regardless of BELIEFS, RACE,CREED,COLOUR.
Finaly, why can’t they all live in HARMONY. There r so many countries in this world that have & r giving REFUGE 2 so many BURMESE(MYANMARS) 4 many years, who themselves claim that their OWN GOVERMENT were PERCECUTING them.I wonder if that was all a fabrication Just 2 get a better LIFE. Now the GOVERMENT has changed how come no1 want’s 2 go back I rest my case.
May…
Optical ought to understand this.Burmese history began 3000 years ago at Tagaung. Hence the saying Bamarasa Tgaungka, meaning Burma started at Tagaung. There was no such country as India at that time.
Bamar started as Brahmah, a kingdom founded by a prince of the Buddha line from Kapilavastu. Northern half of India was Hindustan at some centuroes. it was also part of Greater Tibet before tibetans adopted Buddhism and became peaceful.
Original Burmese monarchy was from the Buddha family, of noethern Indian or Nepalese origin. So the features are not Indo-european or Dravidian.
Despite the variations within the Bamars and the indigenous thenicities, as a group they are very similar and belong to the Tibeto-Burman group. And all mongoloids. Kayins are also mongoloids although they have fairer complexion. Shans are originally from Yunan province and the racial group is Tai or thai.But Bamars, shans and Mons have integrated culturally and in region. Every country has somewhat mixed ethnicities. Normans had taken over Anglo-Saxons. The Celts had arrived in Britain – and in Czech Republic and all over Europe.
Really ther is no such thing as a pure race. having said that there emerged homogenous groups with definite ‘new’ racial identity. From Caucasian and Negroid points of view all Mongoloids are the same. Not so. Some Burmese look slightly northern Indian and some look Chinese. Malays and Indonesians look like Burmese. Not everyone, though.
For united Burma, think all indigenous ethnicities as one group, Burmese. Then peace, co-operation and prosperity will begin. Better than conflicts.