AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS FREE

After spending fifteen years under detention Aung San Suu Kyi walked free on 13-11-2010 to the cheering crowd. Presence of police in large numbers around her house for a couple of days had led to the speculation that the military Junta would release her. Thousands of her supporters had been camping outside her house in Yangon since Friday. As she walked towards the crowd, some one from the crowd shouted “She will save the country”. “I love her very much” shouted another one.
It shows that Su Kyi still remains very popular among the people though there had not been any direct contact between Su Kyi and the people. "I have to give you the first political lesson since my release. We haven't seen each other for so long, so we have many things to talk about”, said Suu Kyi to the people. The military personnel present there did not try to restrain the people indicating that times have changed.
The Junta’s Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) had won the national election held on 7 -11-2010. More than two-thirds of the contestants belonged to the Union Solidarity and Development Party of the Junta. And many of them served the army till recently. International observers had severely criticized the election.
Myanmar had been under military rule since 1962. The Junta had arrested Suu Kyi who had won the national election in 1990.It is believed that the Junta released her in the hope that the international community would accept the election result.
Many world leaders expressed happiness at her release. Surin Pitsuswan, the head of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations of which Myanmar happens to be a member, expressing his relief said that her release “would contribute to true national reconciliation”.
Mr. David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, said “Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration for all of us who believe in freedom of speech,democeacy and human rights”.
The US President Mr. Barack Obama hailed her saying the Suu Kyi was a “hero of mine”. “The United States welcomes her long overdue release”, Mr. Obama said in a statement released immediately after her release.He said Suu Kyi was an inspiration for all who wanted to uphold human rights all over the world.
Former President of the US Mr. Bill Clinton said: “this signals a new direction for the country’s relations with others beyond their borders”.
Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, wished Suu Kyii the best and said “Her dignity and courage in the face of injustice have been an inspiration to many people around the world”. Both Mr. Ki-mmon and Mr. Clinton urged the military to release al other political prisoners believed to be around 2000.
Jimmy Carter another former President of the United States said, “Burma’s neighbour’s, especially China and India, have a great deal of interest in stability in the region. He expressed the hope that China and India would encourage the military to hold talks with the opposition parties.
Aung San Suu and her two maids, Kyi Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma,who happens to be mother and daughter lived a quite life in her 90 years old mansion. She used to meet her lawyer and her close friend U Nyan Win at times. Her family doctor was allowed to visit her once a month. She spent her time during the detention reading books such as biographies, novels and books on philosophy. She also used to read ‘Time’ and ‘Newsweek’ regularly.
She had no access to Telephone, Television and Internet. However, she was allowed to keep five radios with her. And she listened to the BBC, The Voice of America and the Democratic News Service of Burma.
What will happen in Burma now that “The Lady” has been released is anybody’s guess.