Now A Politician, Aung San Suu Kyi Is The Object Of Protesters
Last year, Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was greeted by adoring crowds during triumphant tours of Asia, the U.S. and Europe. She eclipsed President Thein Sein, who remained in Burma, as the country is also known, and managed a series of domestic crises.
This week, Suu Kyi for the first time found herself the object of popular protests at home, while Thein Sein basked in the welcome of dignitaries on a state visit to New Zealand.
The stunning role reversal suggests that Suu Kyi's transition from prisoner of conscience to presidential hopeful in 2015 has reached a new and difficult phase.
"If this trend continues, we're looking at the end of Aung San Suu Kyi as we know her: a political leader with massive political appeal," warns Maung Zarni, a Malaysia-based Burmese academic, who has become disillusioned by her cooperation with the current regime. "The popular perception can turn against even someone like her very quickly."
Suu Kyi went to northwest Burma this week to explain a report by a parliamentary committee that she now chairs.
The report recommends that the Letpadaung copper mine, which has support from Chinese investors, should continue operating, despite damaging the environment and producing few jobs for the local economy. The investors are a Burmese military-run conglomerate, and a subsidiary of one of China's largest weapons manufacturers.
The report found that police were responsible for an attack that injured more than 100 Buddhist monks and other protesters. Yet the parliamentary committee did not recommend any punishment for the police.
A Call To End Protests
Suu Kyi told the residents to end their protests, and said Burma could not risk alienating foreign investors, especially China.
Pictures show Suu Kyi looking dejectedly out of her car window at protesters weeping and shouting out their disapproval of her and her committee's report.
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