Twelve months ago, Aung San Suu Kyi was appointed State Counsellor of Myanmar, becoming the de facto leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Government that swept to power in (relatively) free and fair elections in 2015. Over the past several weeks, both the government and Suu Kyi herself have been subject to searching reviews by Myanmar-watchers and other commentators.
To varying degrees, most have expressed disappointment with the NLD’s performance during its first year in office. Even allowing for the unrealistically high expectations held both within and outside the country, the new government has failed to deliver on its promises. Foreign observers have been particularly critical of Suu Kyi’s repeated refusal to intervene on behalf of the mostly stateless Muslim Rohingyas.
Since the publication of these reviews, a number of Suu Kyi’s supporters and apologists for her government have leapt to the defence, arguing that it is too early to judge the new administration. They have pointed out the dreadful state of Myanmar when it took power. Some have also sought to deflect criticism of Suu Kyi to the armed forces (Tatmadaw), which they see as the root cause of all her problems.
The NLD’s defenders make some good points. However, before dismissing Suu Kyi’s critics it is worth considering some of the issues that have been raised.
Please click here to read the full “Suu Kyi’s Myanmar, one year on” article in the Lowy Interpreter by Griffith Asia Institute Adjunct Associate Professor, Dr Andrew Selth.
