Free Aung San Suu Kyi, Free Burma

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Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 3. (September 2009).

Free Aung San Suu Kyi, Free Burma
By sushi_error

On August 11th, 2009 a Burmese court found pro-democracy activist, Aung San Suu Kyi guilty for allowing American citizen, John Yettaw, into her home after he swam there in early May. Suu Kyi is sentenced to an additional 18 months of house arrest (she has spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention). Yettaw will spend seven years in jail as well as four years of hard labor.

On May 3rd, 2009 Yettaw swam to Aung San Suu Kyi’s lakeside home, hoping to free her. A week later, Aung San Suu Kyi was taken into custody by Burmese police. She told a Burmese court that she did not know about Yettaw’s visit until his arrival and gave him shelter for two nights. The political activist chose not to notify authorities because she feared Yettaw would be arrested.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been the symbol of Burma’s struggle for freedom and democracy. In 1990, the National League for Democracy (NLD), a party led by Aung San Suu Kyi won a convincing victory in the country’s first and only free election since 1960. However, the military junta refused to acknowledge the results and would not transfer power to the NLD. Since then, Burma has been ruled by a ruthless and corrupted military government.

Suu Kyi has been placed under numerous house arrests because the government does not want to see her in control. The recent sentencing of Suu Kyi has been met with anger and frustration worldwide. Around the world, thousands of individuals have been campaigning for Suu Kyi’s immediate release and calling for freedom for Burma. Many people strongly believe the only reason why the sentence was carried out is because the government does not want to see Suu Kyi participate in the country’s 2010 elections.

Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and France have voiced their deep disappointment and condemnation of Suu Kyi’s arrest and sentencing. The United Nations condemns the 18-month sentence and has been putting enormous pressure on the Burmese government since. On the other hand, the European Union has chosen to stiffen sanctions against Burma; however, sanctions will not solve the problem because Burma is one of the poorest nations in the world and sanctions will not deter the government from continuing to oppress its people.

Economic sanctions will not free Aung San Suu Kyi or the Burmese people. Instead, all countries need to rally together and put more pressure on the military junta. It is extremely disheartening that Burma’s main allies and trade partners, China and India, have chosen to take a back seat on this major issue. Both countries have yet to comment on this recent sentencing which clearly speaks volumes of their views on this problem. Nevertheless, we all need to be the voices for the Burmese people because they are being silenced every day. We cannot allow any type of government to rule a group of people the way the military junta has ruled the Burmese. The actions displayed by the Burmese government cannot be tolerated nor justified in any way.