Free at last

The release of Myanmar democracy activist and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest after seven years by the military rulers on Saturday is indeed news worthy of celebration. Her release is a testimony that no regime, no matter how oppressive, can suppress the voices that call for democracy and liberty. Without any doubt, Suu Kyi, who spent 15 of the past 21 years in detention, is an inspiration to democracy activists all over the world, and her release gives many in the world who cherish democratic ideals a good reason to cheer about.



Suu Kyi’s party, National League for Democracy, won the majority in 1990 general elections in Myanmar. However, the ruling military regime nullified the election results and refused to hand over power to the people’s representatives and instead of heeding its own people’s and international community’s repeated calls to release her, lengthened her house arrest on flimsy pretexts. But, this did not deter Suu Kyi even an inch from her resolve to bring democracy to Myanmar as the military regime hoped for; on the contrary, it strengthened her resolve to fight for her cause. And, for this reason, she is an inspiring figure who is admired the world over.



Today, democracy has become an aspiration of many people around the globe. It is not an ideology as its critics make it out to be. In fact, it is a way of life that guarantees freedom, equality and a chance to realize any individual’s full potential, and it is the only system that leads any nation toward the path of peace and prosperity. Denying freedom to people, thus, is not only anachronistic, but also a grave injustice.



Myanmar, despite being rich in natural resources and a member of the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), is still lagging behind in many aspects compared to many other members of the regional association because the regime has so far denied the people democracy and freedom, and this has had an adverse effect in its growth. The only way to catch up with the neighboring countries that are more affluent than it is to democratize and allow every individual to realize his/her potentials.



Finally, by releasing Suu Kyi, the military rulers of Myanmar have righted one wrong, but there are many more wrongs to be righted there, and we hope the regime starts doing that at the earliest. A good start would be to hold another round of general election, which is free and fair in every sense unlike the one held on Nov 7, and accept the people’s verdict.

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