Wednesday (November 17th): Myanmar Update: Suu Kyi’s Charged … Again

Name? Aung San Suu Kyi

san-suu-kyi Myanmar
Aung Suu Kyi

Westphalian identity? Burmese

Age? 76

Why is she in the news? Myanmar’s military Junta added another charge to Suu Kyi’s as the Union Election Commission officially charged Suu Kyi, former President U Win Myint, and 14 others with “election fraud and lawless actions.”

Why do we care? As we mentioned in our last update on the situation in Myanmar, Suu Kyi’s fate is … a return to her many years under house arrest. We aren’t saying that there are no other options besides Suu Kyi and General Hlaing, rather that with Suu Kyi officially out of the spotlight again, the people’s resistance will lose not only hope but direction in their resistance campaign.

Why should you care? Because little has changed since the February 1st coup. General Hlaing and his military forces still control the press, people and property in Myanmar. ASEAN and the UN have urged Hlaing to release Suu Kyi and return to peace through monitored democratic elections. Unlike yesterday’s daily where it was important to keep the status quo, you should care 7/10 about the political, military, economic and diplomatic stagnation in Myanmar.

Who else cares? Sun Guoxiang, Beijing’s special envoy for Asian affairs. Sun visited the Burmese capital of Naypyidaw on Monday, marking the Chinese diplomat’s second visit to Myanmar since the military’s takeover last February. It is still unclear whether Sun was able to meet with Suu Kyi on this trip; he was able to meet with General Hlaing and various ministers. Sun’s trips to Naypyidaw emphasize China’s long-term support and investment in Myanmar.

Any further comments? Not only is Suu Kyi a symbol of democracy in Myanmar, but she has also spurred many women in the Southeast Asian nation to take up arms and fight for their freedom as well as equality. As one brave fighter stated: “We are women warriors, which means we are ready to fight anytime and anywhere.”