Burmese Spring? Aung San Suu Kyi to stand in election

WHAT'S HAPPENED?
Burma's leading reformist Aung San Suu Kyi has announced that she plans to stand for election to parliament, along with her party, the National League for Democracy in upcoming by-elections, as yet unscheduled.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Suu Kyi's decision reflects her genuine belief in the reforms being enacted by the civilian government which earlier this year replaced the oppressive junta. "I don't think it's been this open since the coup of 1988", Suu Kyi told the Wall Street Journal.
 
It may be too early to talk of a Burmese Spring, but the eight-month-old civilian government has introduced greater freedoms of media and politics, while hundreds of political prisoners have been released. However, there are fears that change is superficial. The new government was appointed by the military regime and many figures from it remain in power.
 
Yet the "flickers of progress", as President Barack Obama terms them, are gaining acceptance for Burma in the international community. Hillary Clinton will visit the country next month to assess and support the transition to democracy, and the White House could lift its economic sanctions. Burma has also been admitted to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
 
Suu Kyi is emerging as the key figure in the transition. She has been characterised as a Burmese Nelson Mandela and is uniquely respected across the world for her struggle against the military junta, which earned her the 1991 Nobel peace prize and 15 years under house arrest. Barack Obama is known to deeply admire her and said that they had spoken on Thursday to discuss the future of US relations with Burma.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The civilian government will be expected to show its commitment to change by pressing ahead with reforms, and the US is insistent that all political prisoners be released. The date has yet to be fixed for the election but before then it should become clear whether Suu Kyi, who has so far only declared that she will stand for a seat, has a leadership position in her sights. ·