Myanmar's democracy leader, now officially known as State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi recently observed her 72nd birthday. The intense struggle against and resistance to military rule Ms. Suu Kyi put up for years on end against her country's seemingly entrenched military rulers is today part of history and will surely be remembered by students of history and scholars in future.
Even as we wish the Myanmar politician a long life and more prosperity in the times ahead, we cannot but note that the aura which once surrounded Ms. Suu Kyi has by now faded away. No one but the Lady, as she is fondly referred to by her acolytes, is responsible for this decline in fortune.
Despite growing international unease over the plight of Myanmar's Rohingya population, Ms. Suu Kyi has consciously and scandalously stayed away from voicing any condemnation of the cruelties piled on the Rohingyas. It is amazing, not to say shocking, to note the disturbing manner in which she has looked away from the Rohingyas and so far has said and done nothing that can encourage the world to think that she can be a troubleshooter here.
The attitude is unfortunate. And it is because it has been stripping away at the reverence Aung San Suu Kyi has till now been held in. There have been questions about whether the Nobel for Peace she won years ago should remain with her, given her indifference to the Rohingyas' plight.
These questions certainly cannot be comfortable for her, but as long as she does not take an assertive position on the Rohingyas, does not show that she cares, the questions will keep coming. Ms. Suu Kyi's struggle was for a decent socio-political order in Myanmar. In the case of the Rohingyas, that kind of order remains an improbability, which is a pity.
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