The America that I know is a friend of the oppressed and a fierce enemy of dictators. I have also known America as a great defender of freedom and home to people who value human dignity. Most of all I have known America to be the home of the brave and the land of the free.
But what is America doing in the case of Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner for promoting peace and espousing freedom in her country? There is not much really. America is busy with domestic affairs like the forthcoming elections and a faltering economy. America is also busy with the war in Iraq and Afghanistan where the country is spending millions of dollars everyday of taxpayer's money. Sure, America is fighting for freedom of the oppressed in these Middle Eastern countries but at what prize?
Here is a country in Asia where its people have been oppressed for decades by martial law dictators who get away with their whims and caprices by making endless promises to Uncle Sam and the United Nations that transition to democracy is in place. This same promise has been put forward by the Myanmar martial law administrators to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) where Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a member. It has been almost 50 years and the promise to freedom is still far from reality.
Here is one concerned citizen, a principled lady who is fighting for the freedom of the oppressed in her country, through non-violent means. Is this not what the great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and John F. Kennedy want, fighting for a cause through non-violent means? But why is America, the most powerful country in the world, not responding to the call from the people of Myanmar, to at least work for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from years of captivity? Your answer is good as mine.
Who is Aung San Suu Kyi and why is she being detained for the longest time? Aung San Suu Kyi is a freedom fighter. She was born on July 19, 1945 in Rangoon, Burma. His father, Aung San was a General in the Burmese Army who negotiated for the independence of Burma from the United Kingdom in 1947. He was assassinated by his rivals in the same year. She has two brothers, one died in an accident when she was eight years old. The other brother migrated to the America and became a US citizen.
Suu Kyi had an early education in an English Catholic school in Burma. When her mother was appointed Ambassador to India in 1960, she went with her and studied in Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi in 1964. She later went to Oxford and obtained a B.A. degree in Economics, Philosophy and Politics at the St. Hugh's College. She continued her studies at the University of London and obtained a Ph.D.in 1985.
In 1988, Suu Kyi returned to Burma to take care of her ailing mother. At that time the head of the socialist government of Burma General Ne Win was stepping down from his long stay as head of government. This led to mass protests and street demonstration culminating in the military ceasing power and setting in place a Military Junta that ruled Burma for many years.
This event in Burma's history marked the beginning of Suu Kyi's crusade for freedom and democracy. She entered politics and formed the National League for Democracy in 1988.The following year, she was arrested and offered freedom provided she leave the country. She refused and instead chose to continue her crusade for peace and freedom through non-violent means.
In 1990, the Military Junta, under international pressure, called for general election. Her party, the NLD won the election decidedly and as head of the party, Suu Kyi should have assumed the post of Prime Minister of Myanmar. But she was not allowed to rule and instead she was arrested and placed on house arrest. Since then, she would be freed for a while on some occasions and to be arrested again and put back on house arrest. The cruelty of Myanmar's Military Junta took its toll on the life and health of Suu Kyi. When her husband died of prostate cancer in London, she was not allowed to attend the funeral. When she was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, she was not allowed to personally receive the Prize and on many instances, she would be restricted from attending important events that will give her international media exposure.
Suu Kyi has been detained for 19 years. World leaders including the President of the most powerful country in the world would now and then, put pressure on the Myanmar Junta for Suu Kyi's release but they would always manage to get concessions. On many occasions, the military junta managed to get away with their promised date of release. Last May 27, 2008, her detention was again extended for another year.
According to latest news from AFP, Suu Kyi health is deteriorating. Her doctor says she is malnourished owing to her continued refusal to take food from the Military Junta. Suu Kyi is slowly dying and nobody seems to really care, not even the most powerful country in the world.
