A new day for Myanmar

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

One of the most heartening pieces of news to come out yesterday was the virtual victory of the once beleaguered but feisty woman leader of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi in the first “normal” election to be held in that country in almost two decades.

In all those years, all the world had heard about Myanmar, also known as Burma, was about the oppressive military rule that seemed to suffocate its people with repressions of their freedoms that appeared unbelievable to those of us who live under a democratic system, despite its warts.

In connection with the dictatorial reign of the infamous “Junta” as the military bloc was referred to, the world also kept track of the travails of the strong-willed and intractable woman who became a symbol of her people’s struggle to free themselves from the stranglehold of the Junta, and its treatment of the woman they considered an icon and the symbol of their hope for liberation.

Being such brought nothing but suffering and persecution to the stubborn lady, who persevered through years of oppression, imprisonment, and house arrest all those years. To the military rulers, she was like a thorn they could not remove from their sides. But for Aung San Suu Kyi, she was willing to wait them all out, still believing that the day would come when she and her people would all be free – free to choose the form of government they want, free to choose their leaders and live the lives they choose.

The rest of the world can only speculate on what had happened to make the once dictatorial gang, the Junta, to make a turn-around, and agree to hold the elections they had yesterday, one that was free of intervention, and so far, the most democratic ever held there. Do we see the hands of other world leaders who have long been concerned over the conditions in Myanmar?

It does not matter now. As of late yesterday, reports said Suu Kyi was already assured of a landmark victory, with 65 percent of the votes, topping the 45 who will compose the parliament.

We congratulate the people of Myanmar, who must be experiencing now what we did after the original EDSA revolution, and wish them Godspeed in their new government.*