By Thomas K. Rogers III

For nearly two decades, thousands of political prisoners have remained incarcerated in Myanmar, the Southeast Asian state formerly known as Burma. The most prominent of those detained is Aung San Suu Kyi. This Oxford graduate, who then went on to receive a PhD at the University of London, is the daughter of General Aung San, who in 1947 won independence from the United Kingdom for his people of Burma.  Her father was assassinated in 1962 in a successful coup, which led to a state controlled by a xenophobic military government that still exists today.

When Suu Kyi returned to Burma in 1988 to care for her sick mother, who died soon thereafter, she found herself leading a pro-democracy movement.  In light of the ailing economy, ill treatment of the Burmese people, strict censorship, lack of freedom and the constant state of fear that existed among the citizens, Suu Kyi and a few others founded the National League for Democracy (NLD).

In 1990, the military junta-run government agreed to hold general elections.  Much to their surprise—but to none of the people or outsiders—the NLD won about 80 percent of the parliamentary seats.  This was a clear indication that an overwhelming majority of the Burmese people wanted peace, a stable and prosperous economy, just treatment under fair laws, freedom of expression and protection, not only from the international community but also of their human rights.

Following this, the military rulers imprisoned Suu Kyi and approximately 2,100 other pro-democracy supporters after refusing to transfer power to the NLD. Their crime: causing social unrest.  Due to laws that allow wide interpretation of what a threat consists of, this mass jailing episode continues to remain possible.

According to Amnesty International, a non-profit organization that campaigns for the recognition of human rights for all, “People from all walks of life… are serving long prison sentences for acts of peaceful dissent.  Many of them are in poor health and have suffered torture, inhumane or degrading treatment.  Many have died in detention or prison.”

Those who are not incarcerated suffer just as much as those in detention.  Human rights abuses and violations are rampant throughout the state.  Many people, primarily practicing Buddhists, are being treated not as humans, but as animals or inanimate objects. Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate, has spent 14 of the past 20 years in and out of detention for supporting and working towards a free and democratic Burma, all the while defending human rights.  However, despite what she’s endured, Suu Kyi continues to call for dialogue between the NLD and military junta for the sake and benefit of the people. 

Now, while there has been great international pressure on the current government of Burma by the United Nations and heads of states around the world, as history has proven, the best way to create change and make a difference is to work from the bottom up. With the first election in 20 years to be held sometime this year, the time for action is now. We must let Senior General Than Shwe know that his actions are unjust and we are not going to stand idly by while he oppresses the Burmese people.  Most importantly, we must let our brothers and sisters of Burma know that we have not forgotten their struggle for freedom.

For more information about Aung San Suu Kyi and the campaign for a free and democratic Burma, and to take action, go to www.amnestyusa.org/suukyi or
uscampaignforburma.org.