In the early hours of February 1 this year, Myanmar’s military launched a textbook coup, arresting the Nobel Prize winning political leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and many of her colleagues.
Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy MPs had been due in parliament to confirm their landslide election victory over the military backed opposition.
Instead, her arrest signalled that Myanmar’s generals were back in charge, undoing years of political and diplomatic manoeuvring that had forced them to relinquish control.
“A more canny political operator would have laid down conditions which would have actually set the stage for genuine democratic development in the coming years but instead, she, in her ladylike way, walked in to the cage.” Biographer
For decades Aung San Suu Kyi waged a campaign to bring democracy to Myanmar. In the 1990s she became an international icon as the slender, elegant and determined activist prepared to sacrifice everything for her cause. She spent almost 15 years in detention.
“This is a woman who, from the point of view of the western public, could not put a foot wrong, she was unbelievably beautiful, she had suffered like a tragic heroine of a fairy story.” Author
Awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, feted by world leaders, she was portrayed as saint-like figure, but over time it became clear how little her supporters understood what it would take for Aung San Suu Kyi to outplay Myanmar’s generals.
“We put the bumper stickers on the back of the car (but) we may not have understood entirely what her agenda was… little by little that got unpacked and she became a politician with all the pros and cons that go with that.” Former US Ambassador
In this provocative portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi, some of those who once publicly supported her say she lost her credibility during her time in power.
“When you’re receiving a Noble Peace Prize you don’t make a speech saying ‘yes and I’m prepared to use whatever means fair or foul to get democracy in Burma’ which I think is probably closer to her attitude.” Former diplomat
The program details the political manoeuvrings and compromises taken by Aung San Suu Kyi in her battle for power. Most controversial was her failure to condemn the violence that saw more than 700,000 Muslim Rohingya virtually expelled from Myanmar and an estimated 10,000 slaughtered.
“It’s very hard to understand how Aung San Suu Kyi could have responded in the way that she did when there were so many credible reports of appalling human rights violations.” Human rights activist
Her supporters say the expectations placed upon Aung San Suu Kyi have been unrealistic.
“Real change will only come with military change, I mean if you think that she can wave a wand and create a British democracy then I don’t know what you’ve been smoking.” Former US ambassador
The delicate balancing act now seems to have been a failure. In the weeks that have followed, the regime has violently suppressed any opposition, with more than 200 people reportedly killed. Aung San Suu Kyi is once again imprisoned by the generals and democracy in Myanmar seems further away than ever.
“You know she cut a deal with the devil but at what expense? At what expense?” Former UN Human Rights Commissioner
Aung San Suu Kyi – The rise and fall of an icon, from the BBC’s This World, goes to air on Monday 29th April at 8.30pm.
It is replayed on Tuesday 30th April at 1.00pm and Wednesday 31st at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
