Outraged but not surprised

May 28, 2009

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is on trial. The circumstances are unexpected — even ridiculous — but the trial should not be surprising. The Lady’s house arrest, which had already been extended once — illegally, was set to end with the month of May.

The trial’s conclusion — unannounced but easily predicted — should not be a surprise: the Lady will not be allowed to travel or speak freely. She was never going to be allowed to travel or speak freely. Though the visit from an unwanted American has provided a convenient auspice for continued detention, that the detention would occur was always a foregone conclusion.

The international community is once again expressing outrage. The feeling is warranted, appreciated, shared. But it should never be paired surprise. Burma is not a democracy, discipline or otherwise. Elections are scheduled for 2010 but, as with the trial of Daw Aung San, the result is predetermined. More importantly, their result does not matter: true democracy will not be possible under the new constitution, which guarantees no rights for ethnic nationalities, few rights for anyone outside the military and too tough a battle for amendment.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Commentary