Time for Aung San Suu Kyi to step aside?

From the political perspective, all eyes are currently fixed on Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s icon of democracy, who has led the battle for democratisation for more than two decades. It is hardly surprising, therefore, if she currently receives the near-exclusive attention of the media as well as policy-makers and leaders from around the world. But is that necessarily the right thing for the future of the country? Have you, for instance, ever heard of anybody else from the National League for Democracy, the party she leads? It is as if she alone carries the weight of the democratic transition and the future of the country.

Consider the recent visit of Baroness Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She spent two entire days with Suu Kyi before meeting President Thein Sein for a couple of hours. In other words, she hardly spent any time with the government of the country. Surely a rather big oversight by Lady Ashton’s staff who organised her schedule?

Let’s now look at the other great democracy icon of the 20th century: Nelson Mandela. In the longer run, his greatest achievement may have indeed been not only his persistence of dreaming the democratic dream for decades, but to skilfully judge the right moment to step aside, letting others proceed with building the party and the democracy that South Africa has become. 

In other words, Suu Kyi’s greatest challenge may be to remain part of the solution by letting other government and party members receive some of the attention, rather than to become part of a problem by letting pride and vanity win the day.

Stephane 

Berlin