The most recent trial of Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar has caused outrage around the world. The military regime continues to hold the pro-democracy opposition leader underhouse arrest and is currently in trial over her apparent breach of this. However, since the breach was due to the capture of an American journalist swimming in the lake next to her house, many are asking if this is just an excuse to keep her detained during the 2010 elections? She never invited the journalist or wanted him there.
These elections have been promised to reduce sceptisim from the outside world of the regimes legitimacy. Kyi's opposition group actually won the last elections in 1990 but were never allowed in power. Will the regime use this trial to prevent the same situation occuring again? Hilary Clinton says, "They intend to hold elections in 2010, which from the beginning will be illegitimate because of the way that they have treated her." One Asian diplomat said: "They seem to want to improve the image of the trial by allowing us to be there." Is this a show to the rest of the world to help legitimise her detention and hence legitimise the coming elections if she is not in them? Her current house arrest should end on 27th May so its kind of suspicious that she goes to trial now just days before her release.
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5581862/myanmar-junta-allows-glimpse-suu-kyi-trial/
I don't think her detention can ever be legitimised, its so far past the point of acceptability, especially from a Western perspective.
ReplyDeleteWhy only from a western perspective?
ReplyDelete:) This is the peril of teaching 'Asian Values' Xavier! Perhaps a mandatory course requirement should be taking Asian studies 100 level, just so everyone can turn out as over sensitized as myself.
ReplyDeleteOn a different note, its legitimized not ligitimized :). (I cheated and used Firefox inline spell checker.)