Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won more than two thirds of the parliamentary seats in Myanmar’s historic election this week, 26 years after Suu Kyi was first placed under house arrest. Although she is not constitutionally allowed to serve as president (because her sons were born in a different country), the democratic icon insisted she will lead her country. Her expected ascent is seen as an important step in the difficult history of Myanmar and an inspiring story of personal strength. Suu Kyi, the 70-year-old daughter of independence hero Gen. Aung San, spent 15 years under house arrest between 1989 and 2010. In 2012, she won a parliamentary seat by election, as the country adopted more democratic reforms, including freeing political prisoners, allowing peaceful demonstrations, removing names from its blacklist and allowing privately owned newspapers in the country. The United States and other countries responded by lifting sanctions and in 2012 President Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to visit Myanmar, also known as Burma. During his visit, Obama, speaking to university students, said Myanmar should strive for true democracy, including “freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.” “I stand here with confidence that something is happening in this country that cannot be reversed, and the will of the people can lift up this nation and set a great example for the world,” he said at the University of Yangon. And on Thursday, Obama called Suu Kyi to congratulate her on her party’s impending victory, which was “an important step forward in Burma’s democratic transition.” As Myanmar navigates the tricky politics and road ahead, particularly as it pertains to relations with China, dig deeper on Asian politics, human rights and leadership with Flipboard Magazines.
