Suu Kyi gave Myanmar’s generals false respectablity

There is little doubt that if the people of Myanmar were allowed a free vote and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to stand for president, she would win by a large majority. But she has been stopped by rigged constitution set up by the military establishment that has run the country for 49 years as a military junta, and since 2011 behind a charade of former generals acting as civilians.

Suu Kyi has been severely criticised for using her impeccable democratic credentials to give some respectability to her former captors. But she has argued that some engagement is necessary to take the country forward, even if it means dealing with the leaders of a deeply repugnant regime. Suu Kyi is about to take part in an internal summit on changing the constitution with Thein Sein and the head of the army General Min Aung Hlaing, when she will argue for a less restrictive constitution. It will be a test of the generals’ commitment to open government, and if they succeed in dodging any real change, then they will have won another round and survived to continue ravishing their once rich country.