Myanmar leader admits democratic government has fallen short of first-year hopes
 |
| Aung San Suu Kyi admitted her administration had not made as much progress as hoped |
The former pro-democracy campaigner admitted her administration had not made as much progress as hoped in grappling with the legacy of half a century of military rule.
Her remarks in a televised speech echo wider fears that the Southeast Asian country is struggling to deal with a daunting range of social, economic and security problems. Her address also marks an inevitable comedown from the euphoria of a transition from junta rule that last year yielded the first civilian-dominated government since the 1960s.
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi used the 25-minute speech on Thursday to defend her record as well as acknowledge people’s disappointment. The leader widely known as “the Lady” or “Mother Suu” said she and her government had done what they could, but that the year since they were sworn in was “not a long period”.
“So, if you all think I am not good enough for our country and our people, if someone or some organisation can do better than us, we are ready to step down,” she added.
Her offer to quit appears largely rhetorical, as she still has reserves of support from her long campaign — including 15 years of house arrest — against the repressive former junta. She has no challengers from within her National League for Democracy, while the main opposition party remains tainted by its links to the former dictatorship.
Myanmar is among the poorest countries in Asia and the government has faced pressure as growth has slowed, the currency has slid and foreign direct investment has dipped. It is also confronted by a resurgence in decades-old internal conflicts involving ethnic regional militias, some near the border with China.
A statement from Ms Aung San Suu Kyi’s office highlighted the conflict between the ambitions of a nationwide peace process she launched in August and its difficulties in bringing the country’s myriad armed groups to the table. The nation was “now seeing red rays of hope spraying forth with brilliant colours,” the announcement insisted, before warning: “At such a time of great importance, undesirable destructive elements and instigations intended to harm peace might emerge.”
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi’s domestic critics have also raised concerns about her allegedly autocratic style and the continuation of some repressive military-era practices, including the arrests of people for defaming officials. She has been attacked overseas over her reluctance to take stronger action over reports of large-scale abuses of the Muslim Rohingya people by the military, which some state officials and media have dismissed as fabrications. The UN last week announced a probe into the claims of crimes including murder, rape and arson.
The Myanmar leader’s allies at home and abroad have defended her approach and pointed out that the military still controls crucial security ministries and a quarter of seats in parliament, giving it a veto on constitutional change.
Ms Aung San Suu Kyu is forced to rule as “state counsellor”, a bespoke title created for her a year ago to skirt a military-drafted constitutional rule that bars anyone whose children have foreign nationality from becoming president. The law — widely seen as aimed at Ms Aung San Suu Kyi — precludes her because her sons by her late British husband are UK citizens.
No comments:
Post a Comment