An open letter to Myamarese leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Dear Suu Kyi,

It is with great joy and happiness that I and many of your supporters greet the news of your unconditional release from house arrest. And I note, with profound relief, that six years of confinement have done little to diminish your fiery spirit and your fierce determination to bring about democracy in Myanmar.

I remember clearly that day in Yangon when we shared a cake in celebration of your birthday. We discussed the likely courses of action you would take in Myanmar's upcoming general elections, the first in more than two decades. You were excited at the prospect of people going to the polls, of possible changes in their impoverished lives, brought on by the government's isolationist policy since 1964. "This will be a truly historic moment for Myanmar," you said.

In preparation for the political campaigning, you even asked me to get you some silk for new clothes, softening your image of a tough and defiant radical opposing the status quo. I remember attending some of the rallies you held, how people were mesmerized by your soft tone, yet strong message. Was it the magic of your family name, revered by all in Myanmar, or your own personal charisma? People unabashedly declared their love for you, some were convinced you were their only true leader. Six years later, with tears in their eyes, many Myanmarese are still saying the same things.

Barely a month after that birthday tea in June of 1989, the authorities pronounced you to be 'endangering the security and stability' of Myanmar. You were confined to your home, given no opportunity to defend yourself and henceforth denied outside communication except with officials.

Michael, your husband, and your two sons, Alexander and Kim, were allowed restricted visits. How this must have pained you, although I know you had prepared your family for such an eventuality when you decided to serve the people of Myanmar.

We followed every bit of news about you: how you had to be taken to the dentist one day, how you no longer played the piano because it was so hopelessly out of tune, and the worst, how you were running low on funds for your daily sustenance.

There were attempts to discredit you. That years of living overseas disqualified you from being a real 'Myanmarese', particularly since you were married to a British man. It mattered little to your critics, that more than half your life was spent researching and writing about Myanmarese history and politics, particularly focusing on your father, Gen. Aung San, Myanmar's beloved national hero.

Much has happened in the six years since your arrest. For a start, the much vaunted elections actually took place. Despite your absence, you and your National League for Democracy (NLD) won by a landslide, although it turned out to be a short-lived victory. The authorities declared the results invalid and a number of key NLD members were jailed, following government accusations of treasonous activities. Many others fled to seek refuge along the Thai border.

The authorities continued to rule, reinforcing their control over the press and the activities of grassroot political parties. But the initial promise of an eventual transition to a duly elected, civilian government has not happened. Perhaps they are waiting for a new constitution, which has been a year in the making.

Meanwhile, outside Burma, which after the elections was renamed Myanmar and its capital Rangoon changed to Yangon, your supporters protested and demanded your release. We heard reports of the authorities offering you freedom, so long as you agreed to live permanently in exile and remain uninvolved in Myanmarese politics. But we also heard that you flatly refused the offer. In recognition of your dedication to your principles and your sacrifice on democracy and justice, you were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

Because of you and the authorities' reluctance to follow through with the results of the 1990 elections, western donor countries halted their aid programs, further stunting the country's economic growth. Many feared Myanmar might be reverting to its isolationist position. Meanwhile, the authorities' military campaign to quash rebellious ethnic minority groups met with considerable success, given the newly-purchased arms from China, a long-time ally. One by one, 15 of the groups made peace deals with the authorities, leaving the Karen National Union and the heroin-producing Mong Tai group out in the cold.

In the face of international pressure, the authorities increasingly turned to its neighbors for support. ASEAN took the contrary position of maintaining 'constructive engagement' with Myanmar, to effect changes there. Some even say Jakarta, which was visited by Chairman Than Shwe last June, might have specially close ties with Yangon.

Certainly, your release coming soon after that visit invites speculations. Did Jakarta have a hand in it? Or could it be the crippling economic embargo that finally prodded the authorities into ending your confinement?

Some say the stabilizing situation in Myanmar was an important element in the decision to set you free. With the insurgents routed, you were no longer perceived as a threat. Others contend your political activities would be restricted by the new constitution anyhow. Reportedly, one particular clause forbids any Myanmarese married to a non-Myanmarese from participating in political activities, including running for office.

Yet another theory bases your release on a possible conflict with the authorities, pitting hardliners like the powerful First Secretary Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt against moderates and pragmatists like Than Shwe. Just last Sunday, The Bangkok Post reported Khin Nyunt as saying "The rights of 45 million people in the country are more important than the rights of an individual," in clear reference to you. But in the same article, Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence Col. Kyaw Win was quoted as saying: "When there is no security problem, (Aung San Suu Kyi) will be released like former NLD chairman U Tin Oo and NLD spokesman U Ky Maung."

You should know that your ideas and your actions inspire hope in others struggling against social and political injustice elsewhere in the world. And it is indeed heartening to see that without surrendering your ideals and your principles, your first statements have been a conciliatory plea for all factions to work together towards the betterment of Myanmar. The authorities and other parties should heed your call for peace, unity and cooperation for Myanmar's future and for stability in the region. Your newly-found freedom is an encouraging sign that this will happen.

Your friend and supporter -- Yuli.

Yuli Ismartono is a former Bangkok-based foreign correspondent for the now banned magazine TEMPO.