Last year, Nobel peace prize winner and Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was in Kathmandu as a guest of honour and speaker at the 100th birth centenial celebration of the late BP Koirala. And when she was being sent off at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, there were speculations that her enduring efforts to bring back democracy in Myanmar might not pay off. But perhaps, the khada, holy scarf, on her shoulder that was flying in the wind when she boarded the flight from Kathmandu was a sign of blessing for her journey and future victory.

New beginning

Aung San Suu Kyi recently won Myanmar’s landmark election with an overwhelming majority, opening a new chapter of democracy in a country that has been under military rule for decades. Military rule began in Myanmar in 1962 after a coup led by General Ne Win. But the government held free elections in May, 1990. This was the first general election Suu Kyi participated in. It is believed that even back then, she had won the election but the military rulers negated the results and arrested Suu Kyi along with other members of her party, the NLD she found in 1988. However, the change in tune of the military generals after the recent election can be seen as a step towards ‘reconciliation’. And hopefully, this will bring good results for the country. This development in Myanmar has been well received and hailed as a victory of democracy by other countries in Asia and elsewhere in the third world, particularly by those that have long-suffered and waged a long struggle against authoritarian rule.

Nepal connection

Suu Kyi’s victory comes at a special time when the Nepali people themselves have finally received a new constitution written by the elected Constituent Assembly after 70 years of struggle. In this duration, Nepal and Myanmar have shared a close relation and the people of Nepal have never forgotten the role Burma played in the 1951 Revolution against the century-old Rana oligarchy in Nepal. BP Koirala himself had made an adventurous visit to Burma in the last half of the 1940s for this propose and had met the then Prime Minister U Nu along with other top leaders.

Remembering this glorious past, during Suu Kyi’s visit last year, people in Nepal earnestly wished her success on all fronts. Her policy is very close to the ‘national reconciliation’ policy of BP Koirala. The spirit of the policy is patience, resilience and deep understanding of the people’s agony along with the realisation that good leadership can lead a country to greater success in terms of democracy and development.

Moreover, Suu Kyi’s political career has been greatly influenced by the teachings of the Buddha and is spiritually motivated. Alen Clements in his book, ‘Voice of Hope: Conversations with Alan Clements’, has rightly described Suu Kyi’s “….refusal to hate her adversaries and her unwavering commitment to the power of truth. Her words challenge the values and behavior of politicians everywhere, and provide beacon of hope to all those who believe in human rights.”

Perhaps that was the reason why the same military junta that had constantly denied her popularity and politics has now finally accepted her victory. But the fight for peace and stability is not yet over. Therefore, this moment calls for a deep understanding of the opportunity brought about by the historic general election. Myanmar should become an example of peaceful political transition for other countries. May peace and harmony prevail in Myanmar.

Pokharel is a Member of Parliament