Detaining Suu Kyi

The junta got visibly scared watching her address huge public rallies around the countryside. They had even formed reactionary forces who began to clash with Suu Kyi's supporters anticipating that it would scare them away. But their calculation went wrong, instability crept into the political scenario. What has been most astonishing is the complete disregard for international outcry to Suu Kyi's detention. Mounting pressure from international arena to release Suu Kyi should not be ignored unless the military junta wants to court isolation. Though the UN envoy Razali Ismail, the only person to have met her since the latest detention, has assured us that she is in good health, we would only believe it when we see her with our own eyes. And that can be possible if the junta keeps up to their pledge of releasing her from custody 'as soon as possible.'

Here Association of South Asian Nations (ASEAN) can take a firm stand, perhaps a united stand. The interpenetration of markets between the ASEAN countries and Myanmar goes on at such high level that they would think twice before contemplating any change in power in the country. To ASEAN, uncertainty in a partner country wouldn't be accepted. They would always look for a stable situation for doing business. Therefore we would urge ASEAN to persuade the Myanmar regime, at next week's meeting of ASEAN member countries, to release Suu Kyi, at least for democracy if nothing else.

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