Myanmar state counselor and all-round beloved person, Aung San Suu Kyi, is in the process of trying to solve the ethnic conflicts that have plagued the country for decades.
But the politician, who is 71, is not going to be around forever to do that, a spokesperson has warned in an interview stressing the opportunity presented by the upcoming 21st Century Panglong Conference.
“We have time limitations,” Zaw Htay, deputy director-general of the President’s Office, told Eleven Media. “The election term lasts five years. We have to take the ages of Aung San Suu Kyi and the ethnic minority leaders into account.”
The long-planned talks are scheduled for August 31. ‘Panlong’ pays tribute to the 1941 meeting convened by Suu Kyi’s father, independence leader Aung San, that united ethnic groups in a deal that later collapsed under military rule.
Zaw Htay said the state counselor was in a unique position to negotiate peace and establish a “democratic, federal Union.”
“Trust is of importance in negotiating peace,” he said. “… Negotiation theory shows that the process needs leaders who are able to make decisions. Aung San Suu Kyi is an influential figure who has won the support of the representatives of all involved organizations.”
Ethnic leaders told Eleven they also hoped to resolve the crises within Suu Kyi’s lifetime.
“We are the ones who were born from the 8888 Uprising. Aung San Suu Kyi was accepted as the public leader,” said Dr Salai Hlyan Hmone Sar Khaung, the vice-chairperson of the Chin National Front (CNF). “Our goals are the same. I hope that peace can be successfully built while Aung San Suu Kyi is leading the peace process.”
Don’t worry: Suu Kyi isn’t in poor health, according to the government.
Speaking to the Irrawaddy, senior National League for Democracy official Win Htein reportedly said that the state counselor is in good health and capable of managing all her responsibilities.
In addition to holding the state counsellorship, Suu Kyi holds many other posts including heading the foreign ministry.
A Crisis Group report published in July suggested the unusual workload may be putting the politician under some stress.
