Dr San Oo Aung

Our political colleagues these days are feeling big worries about the future of Burma’s politics, which I share also to certain extent.

Present Burma’s political scene

1. Soon it will be 17th Anniversary of NLD’s election victory,
2. And the fourth anniversary of Depayin Massacre.
3. There is no progress in democratization of Burma,
4. DASSK still behind bars.

Oppositions’ conditions

1. With Daw Suu behind bars most of the time and NLD inside Burma with the very old senile nonagenarian leaders, apparent unable to do anything in the absence of Daw Suu.
2. There are serious questions to answer about the future role of NLD, NCGUB NCUB etc.
3. Some grassroots exile activists feeling dissatisfied with current so-called leaders, of the current leaders or leading organizations.

On the side of SPDC Regime

1. SPDC’s main argument: 1990 election was to elect a constitution drafting assembly,
2. SPDC’s constitution is now almost completed; the role of 1990 elections is finished!
3. SPDC plans to get their pro-military constitution approved in referendum
4. And SPDC plans to make fresh new elections next year.
5. SPDC’s point of view; NLD & Daw Suu are no longer relevant.

But, in fact, we don’t need to trouble ourselves too much with so many worries; here are some encouraging thoughts on Burma’s Politics_

· We all must accept first of all that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a well-respected charismatic leader inside and outside of Burma. Politics is about perception, not only reality. It is what people perceive her to be that matters. Anyway, she has already proved that peoples’ perception about her leadership qualities are right.

· A good politician must also be a good juggler, able to juggle many different issues in his or her hand at the same time. And a good politician must be able to play to the gallery and satisfy a wide range of audiences of widely different interest groups_ in politics, there is no permanent enemy or permanent friend, we must made a lot of friends so that we could work together to get to our common goal. The good political leader must have an ability to attract the differing personalities from diverse groups with various agendas to work together towards a common goal. We believe Daw Suu would be able to handle the diverse Ethnic Minority and Religious Minority issues confidently to satisfy all the interest groups with her wide experience of politics and loving kindness.

· The good politician must be able to make all those politicians and the people feel that they are not working for him or her but working together to achieve the common goal and destination. Daw Suu has always been able to create such a perception which people like to feel in their leaders. That is Daw Suu’s forte which other politicians, even the likes of Ne Win, Saw Maung, Than Shwe or any other opposition leaders, have not been able to emulate however much they may try. That is what makes Daw Suu a cut above the rest.

· Concerning the National League for Democracy NLD, we should give political pension to NLD current leaders, most of whom are above 80 years of age now. And let the up and coming younger generation leaders from the division, districts and township levels take over the central leadership role. In addition, NLD need to accept all the interested opposition parties as the coalition partners, acting like an umbrella organization.

· Now all the opposition groups are divided. Many of us are not happy with the present condition. Nevertheless, as we need multi pronged attack on the very powerful and well-organized military, it can be a blessing in disguised for us.

· While we are waiting for our democratic victory, we need to nurture ourselves with understanding the basic principles of Democratic System, Respect on the Human Rights of all without exception, the concept of good governance, and we also must raise our moral standards _ after all, the most important thing for the long-term future of our country is to improve our moral values.