5 - ASEAN's Pariah: Insecurity and Autocracy in Myanmar (Burma)

Summary

In the eyes of its many critics in Western democracies, the junta that rules Myanmar (Burma) is an abomination. At a minimum, and partly for that reason, the country embarrasses the more democratic governments in ASEAN, to which Myanmar also belongs. No regime in the region has attracted more foreign opprobrium more persistently over a longer period of time. Yet Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)—formerly the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC, 1988–97)—continues to survive and even, in its own way, to thrive.

Until 2007, the SPDC and its opposition were locked in a stalemate—the regime unable to destroy its critics, the critics unable to oust the regime. In September 2007, however, the government brutally cracked down on large protests, led by monks, which had taken place in many parts of the Buddhist-majority country. The junta's leader, Senior General Than Shwe, announced that he would personally meet the main opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, or Daw Suu for short, if she stopped denouncing the government and calling for Western governments to impose economic sanctions on the country. The junta then appointed a minister to be a liaison between the government and Daw Suu. While having meetings with the liaison minister, Daw Suu announced that “in the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the Government in order to make this process of dialogue a success.”

Nevertheless, as 2008 began, little if any progress toward reconciliation had been made. Daw Suu and the liaison minister had met a few times since November 2007, but with no apparent result. Than Shwe, known to be in declining health, did not appear in person when the sixtieth anniversary of Myanmar's independence from Britain was commemorated on 4 January 2008, although a statement was read out in his name. Daw Suu remained, meanwhile, under house arrest.