Myanmar military junta tries “powerless” democratic leader

May 18, 4:07 PMChicago Geopolitics ExaminerMichael Hughes

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Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar’s Ghandi, pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was put on trial Monday by the reigning dictatorial military junta for violating house arrest. She has served 13 of a 19-year prison sentence, but now faces a five year extension because of a surreal turn of events when a Mormon man from the U.S., also on trial, swam across a lake to her home earlier this month. Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi did not know the man but characterized him as “one nutty fellow.”

Police clashed with a frenzied crowd of protestors outside the courthouse as her trial began. Many are outraged about the very likely prospect of Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi receiving another unfair trial, considering yesterday authorities revoked her attorney’s license which has prevented him from attending the proceedings at Insein prison.

Experts believe that the junta is simply using the bizarre infraction as an excuse to imprison her longer, to ensure she does not interfere with the military’s dominance of spring elections and the junta’s plan to formalize a new constitution.

The U.S. and E.U. reacted by announcing that they would lengthen sanctions against the Myanmar government.

Seth Mydans of the New York Times painted a compelling image in a Sunday feature when he wrote about an incident 13 years ago that depicted the type of threat that the 63-year old women poses to the “seemingly all powerful junta”:

“Why are you so afraid of us?” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi called out, taunting the military government of Myanmar as thousands of rapturous supporters listened in the rain, whistling and cheering from under a sea of black umbrellas.

The current tyrannical regime has been frustrated by her ability to undermine their oppressive rule, as she continues to somehow build support and still fearlessly leads a peaceful democratic movement, although she has been shrouded in silent exile for 13 years. One realizes that the junta can take physical control of Myanmar, but will never have control of the hearts, minds and souls of its people. Mr. Mydans sums this up:

Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi demonstrates what Vaclav Havel, the former Czech president, called “the power of the powerless.”

Yet, what is even more striking is the fact that this could represent one of the more prolific social and political nonviolent protest struggles of our time, a political prisoner potentially on par with a Ghandi or Mandella.  Yet, why isn't Daw Aung San Suu Kyi a household name in world politics?  The power of her example, we hope, eventually trumps the Myanmar government's example of ruthless power.  But a realist must wonder how a woman, after suffering through a kangeroo court without legal counsel,  who is locked up for another 10 or 11 more years is really going to stop this authoritarian regime from absolute power. The powerless could use a little help sometimes, which rightly means a little more than simply "extending sanctions", but something tells me the world will not take great notice and the military shall ultimately reign supreme in Burma. And once that happens, the citizens of Myanmar will join their brave leader - I hate to say - in an even darker political exile.