No prospect for Daw Suu’s early release

DVB ( July 10, 2003 )

Someone close to Asian diplomatic circle in Rangoon told the DVB that there is no prospect for the impending release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It has been more than a month since Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was detained and although there have been mounting international pressures, there is no prospect of the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Western diplomatic circle in Rangoon also accepted this fact and recent pressures are said to be not strong enough to force the regime to release her. The subject is popular with the people of Rangoon, according to someone close to the Burmese media world. People have been talking about it at crowded teashops and markets and unlike previous occasions they are talking about it openly, added the same person.

The most interesting topics for the people are; how the SPDC is going to solve the Dipeyin problems and when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would be released.

Many political observers in Rangoon regard the assault on NLD supporters at Dipeyin on the 30th of May was the attempt to rout the NLD. One observer told the DVB told the DVB that the NLD could be forced to dismantle soon. When asked about the SPDC’s recent one-sided media campaign against the NLD with the photographs of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the same observer said that the regime wants to convince people that the Dipeyin incident is not the fault of the SPDC.

The main purpose of the photograph campaign is also to make people think that the incident occurred after the reckless behaviour of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi despite the ‘self-control’ and ‘compassion’ of the SPDC.

Another political observer thinks that the SPDC would not dismantle the NLD but it would try to bring about the change of its leaders. Like the situation before 1995, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and top NLD leaders would be detained and the regime will try to replace the party with NLD leaders who could be controlled by the generals, argued the same observer.