The contact between the new regime in Myanmar and the country’s democracy icon is a small, indeed tentative step in the country’s march towards full-fledged democracy. But it is a positive development and it proves once again that nothing can be imposed from above and everything must evolove through a step-by-step apparoach that suits local genius.
The opposition leader met President Thein Sein, who was prime minister in the junta regime, in the capital Naypyidaw last month. It was one o the several signs that the regime is also reaching out to its opponents to usher in a new dawn.
She has since met with the labour minister Aung Kyi twice and their third meeting would take place today Friday, Sept 30.
It is too early to crystal gaze the future, more so since it is not clear whether Thein Sein would be able to give concrete shape to his reform pledge. This scepticism stems from the fact that the regime that came to power in last year’s deeply flawed elections held at short notice is nominally civilian. Generals and Majors made sartorial change and are in the same old positions of advantage. The country’s prisons are still holding some 2000 political activists in detention.
But some of the recent steps announced by President Thein Sein give hope that he may ease restrictions on basic freedoms and allow Suu Kyi a role that befits her stature. The 66-year-old leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) has undertaken her first political trip outside Yangon. Restrictions on the media have been largely lifted and rather liberal (by Myanmar standards) laws on taxes and property ownership have been introduced. In what certainly is unusual by Myanmar yardstick, the government has willingly factored in public concern over $3.6 billion hydroelectric dam on the Irrawaddy River to the dismay of China which is constructing it.
The new US Special Envoy to Myanmar, Derek Mitchell, visited the country and spent five days meeting senior leaders of the government and opposition figures. The visit was followed by two meetings in New York and Washington between senior State Department officials and Myanmar’s new foreign minister, U Wunna Maung Lwin. All this is a clear indication that the US is ready to be responsive to the changing winds. “If they (Myanmar regime) take steps, we (US) will take steps to demonstrate that we are supportive of the path to reform,” Mitchell promised. Turn of events show the US may have to fast track its response.
Myanmar came under US sanctions in 1997; these were expanded in 2008.and these expanded as recently as 2008.
