Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi turned 62 on Tuesday while being under house arrest. Such a notable day that not only did hundreds of Suu Kyi’s supporters stand at National League for Democracy (NLD) party headquarters demanding her freedom, but this her fifth consecutive birthday spent under house detention also marked as “Burmese Women’s Day.”
Consequently, military junta, as of Monday evening, tightened the security as a means to prevent the likely outburst from protesters. This is quite understandable since there are only three big events in the country that potential to make the authorities get down on the road; Burma’s New Year’s Day, Suu Kyi’s birthday and the anniversary of her house arrest.
This NLD party leader’s birthday was not merely an acclaim of the national women day, it was a loud echo of Suu Kyi’s supporters to military junta for an immediate Suu Kyi’s release. “Party members and supporters freed doves and released hundreds of colored balloons into the sky with letters attached calling for her release…for her health and freedom,” a party member was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.
The Nobel Peace Prize recipient Suu Kyi has been in detention for 17 years, in that she has spent more than 11 years under house arrest. May 27th this year was also noted as the 17th anniversary of the victory of the NLD, the party that many analysts said was supposedly capable of triumphing Suu Kyi to lead Burma. However, the complex political situation in Burma is not as easy as flipping the coin.
Aung San Suu Kyi won the last election in Burma in 1990, her party won over 80 percent of the seats. But the military junta has refused to allow the parliament to convince her winning. In spite of having many times promises to release her, the regime has reluctant to do so.
Even though the military regime has changed the country’s name to Myanmar, some opposition groups and countries like the United States and Britain continue to refer to Myanmar by its original name ‘Burma’ since they fervently oppose Myanmar’s military regime.
In addition, a number of human rights organizations have reported that serious human rights abuses by the military regime are commonplace. The situation in Burma has caused many organizations like the Alternative ASEAN—Association of Southeast Asian Nations— Network on Burma (ALTSEAN), and many other individuals and organizations from ASEAN countries, and of course from international communities, to support human rights and democracy in Burma.
Debbie Stothard, coordinator of the Alternative ASEAN network on Burma (ALTSEAN), said that the military regime has reacted very strongly to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). “When Burma was included in the political agenda at the UNSC, it has domestic repercussion and demoralized the military. And the UN has encouraged the people in Burma to be more active against their regime.”
Stothard remarks the fact that many Burmese are on the Suu Kyi’s side in supporting the establishment of the country’s democracy. However, people in Burma cannot do much. “To talk about something related to the government is dangerous. I’m telling you that there was once a 15 year-old teenager who reported gang rape, but instead of having his report heard, the boy was jailed for seven years. The reality is anyone who says something about the military in public is definitely a subversive act and subject for severe punishment. And in some cases, a person engage in such subversive act not only put him or her in peril, but also his or her entire family can be targeted,” Stothard said.