Excitement grows in Burma as Aung San Suu Kyi's release nears.
November 12, 2010 8:17 AM Subscribe
Ah, hopeful here, freedom from fear is a powerful thing. Also contagious.
Thank you for sharing this.
posted by infinite intimation at 8:26 AM on November 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Thank you for sharing this.
posted by infinite intimation at 8:26 AM on November 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'll believe it when it happens. Sorry to be such a fatalist, but we are talking Burma/Myanmar here.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:28 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by Thorzdad at 8:28 AM on November 12, 2010
How long will it be before they find another pretense to arrest her again?
posted by grouse at 8:30 AM on November 12, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by grouse at 8:30 AM on November 12, 2010 [5 favorites]
- Aung San Suu Kyi , Freedom from Fear (quoted in the online version of "Inked over, ripped out; Burmese Storytellers and the Censors", Anna J. Allott)
posted by infinite intimation at 8:30 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by infinite intimation at 8:30 AM on November 12, 2010
About bloody time.
Though I'm with grouse. That's the first thing I thought when I saw the headline.
posted by HostBryan at 8:32 AM on November 12, 2010
Though I'm with grouse. That's the first thing I thought when I saw the headline.
posted by HostBryan at 8:32 AM on November 12, 2010
An inspiration to so many. Even though releasing her would only give the junta more reasons to put her back under house arrest.
posted by mooselini at 8:32 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by mooselini at 8:32 AM on November 12, 2010
Jesus Fucking Christ, I will believe it when I see it.
posted by everichon at 8:38 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by everichon at 8:38 AM on November 12, 2010
This is great news. However, if she is released from her house arrest, she will undoubtedly be a very short leash.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:52 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:52 AM on November 12, 2010
*Fingers firmly crossed*
posted by numberstation at 8:58 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by numberstation at 8:58 AM on November 12, 2010
What's the over-under on her length of freedom post election?
Less than a month?
posted by leotrotsky at 9:08 AM on November 12, 2010
Less than a month?
posted by leotrotsky at 9:08 AM on November 12, 2010
It's been a long time coming. If as as thos upthread have mentioned,; it actually happens.
Of course Burma,s two main neighbours India and China have done little to encourage this.
However Aung San Suu Kyi is not free yet as she has demanded unconditional release.
If only western politicians had such moral fiber.
posted by adamvasco at 9:20 AM on November 12, 2010
Of course Burma,s two main neighbours India and China have done little to encourage this.
However Aung San Suu Kyi is not free yet as she has demanded unconditional release.
If only western politicians had such moral fiber.
posted by adamvasco at 9:20 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by zennie at 9:25 AM on November 12, 2010
Bono did it!
You know, I'm a U2 fan (there goes my MeFi cred!), and have applauded a lot of their efforts to raise awareness about political situations around the world over the years. But man, did I ever find the "put on a mask of Aung's face while we sing Walk On" segment of their 360 tour to be the most tedious thing they've ever done.
I guess if she actually goes get released, that speaks well for that segment being removed from the tour by the time I go see them again next summer. I hope so, anyway.
posted by hippybear at 11:01 AM on November 12, 2010
You know, I'm a U2 fan (there goes my MeFi cred!), and have applauded a lot of their efforts to raise awareness about political situations around the world over the years. But man, did I ever find the "put on a mask of Aung's face while we sing Walk On" segment of their 360 tour to be the most tedious thing they've ever done.
I guess if she actually goes get released, that speaks well for that segment being removed from the tour by the time I go see them again next summer. I hope so, anyway.
posted by hippybear at 11:01 AM on November 12, 2010
hippybear, that segment (the masks) was already removed from the set in the recent European leg of the tour. I won't spoil what it's been replaced with.
posted by prolific at 11:11 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by prolific at 11:11 AM on November 12, 2010
This is awesome!!
I saw her speak at my husband's graduation.
By which I mean, people from our college flew to Burma, videotaped her address, and played it during graduation since she couldn't, you know, travel to the States to receive it in person. She received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. And her speech was better than the speech from the person who was the commencement speaker.
She received a standing ovation.
posted by zizzle at 11:33 AM on November 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
I saw her speak at my husband's graduation.
By which I mean, people from our college flew to Burma, videotaped her address, and played it during graduation since she couldn't, you know, travel to the States to receive it in person. She received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. And her speech was better than the speech from the person who was the commencement speaker.
She received a standing ovation.
posted by zizzle at 11:33 AM on November 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's been a long time coming.
No kidding. I remember reading a nearly exact story back in 1995. I would certainly be glad to see her released from house arrest, but it doesn't seem like there is a change brewing in Burma.
posted by mrgrimm at 2:23 PM on November 12, 2010
No kidding. I remember reading a nearly exact story back in 1995. I would certainly be glad to see her released from house arrest, but it doesn't seem like there is a change brewing in Burma.
posted by mrgrimm at 2:23 PM on November 12, 2010
While it would be great to see, I can't imagine she'll be free any longer than she stays away from a microphone or public gathering. I'm going with three weeks before some reason to arrest her again is trumped up.
The thing I can't understand is the back and forth. Is it a game by the people in power? Or are there actually different factions at work, with some pushing for her release, and others working against it? One group, finally, after years of politcal work, manages to spring her, then the other group finds something to arrest her with, undoing all of the hard work done on her behalf? From all I've heard of the junta, I can't help but imagine it's just a bunch of assholes fucking with the general populace.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:48 PM on November 12, 2010
The thing I can't understand is the back and forth. Is it a game by the people in power? Or are there actually different factions at work, with some pushing for her release, and others working against it? One group, finally, after years of politcal work, manages to spring her, then the other group finds something to arrest her with, undoing all of the hard work done on her behalf? From all I've heard of the junta, I can't help but imagine it's just a bunch of assholes fucking with the general populace.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:48 PM on November 12, 2010
Supporting dictatorships for the stability (or, rather, rigor mortis) they provide is aggravating, no matter who's doing the supporting.
posted by ersatz at 6:27 PM on November 12, 2010
posted by ersatz at 6:27 PM on November 12, 2010
According to ABC television in Western Australia, she's just been released. Nothing I can find on the web yet.
posted by Ahab at 3:05 AM on November 13, 2010
posted by Ahab at 3:05 AM on November 13, 2010
Nicholas Kristof: Aung San Suu Kyi and Burmese Sanctions
posted by homunculus at 8:13 AM on November 13, 2010
posted by homunculus at 8:13 AM on November 13, 2010
Burma’s nuclear puzzle: Some say the country's repressive military junta is trying to build nuclear weapons. But can the claims be verified?
posted by homunculus at 8:14 AM on November 13, 2010
posted by homunculus at 8:14 AM on November 13, 2010
I don't know how literal "house arrest" is in this instance... but how strange it must be for Suu Kyi to be suddenly free to walk beyond her boundaries for the first time in over 7 years. I hope the experience has not caused real psychological damage to her.
I'm still not really sure on why they've released her, other than they just had an "election", and may not have another one until after she's dead, so it's a moot point?
This is great news no matter what. I hope she can find a way to be effective even as a background figure in helping to solve some of the real problems the people of that country live with daily.
posted by hippybear at 1:32 PM on November 13, 2010
I'm still not really sure on why they've released her, other than they just had an "election", and may not have another one until after she's dead, so it's a moot point?
This is great news no matter what. I hope she can find a way to be effective even as a background figure in helping to solve some of the real problems the people of that country live with daily.
posted by hippybear at 1:32 PM on November 13, 2010
Ashin Panna Siri is a Burmese Buddhist monk who played a key role in the 2007 ‘Saffron Revolution’.
He managed to escape from Burma and now lives in Delhi.
posted by adamvasco at 12:31 AM on November 15, 2010
He managed to escape from Burma and now lives in Delhi.
posted by adamvasco at 12:31 AM on November 15, 2010
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Which way did you say her compound was?
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:26 AM on November 12, 2010 [2 favorites]