Myanmar’s Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Praises Young Anti-Junta Resistance Fighters

By The Irrawaddy 7 December 2022

In her first public feedback about Myanmar’s ongoing ant-regime resistance motion since final 12 months, the nation’s ousted chief Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stated she was pleased with younger Burmese folks and all these struggling to defend and battle for democracy.

She shared the message by way of her Australian former financial adviser, Sean Turnell, who was launched by the regime three weeks in the past after spending 650 days in jail.

Turnell relayed what Daw Aung San Suu Kyi instructed him and shared his views about the way forward for Myanmar in an interview with Information 10, an affiliate of US community ABC, on Tuesday.

He stated he noticed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi about eight weeks in the past after they have been sentenced. She requested Turnell to inform everybody the reality about Myanmar. The detained State Counselor stated “We have now been silenced, however you may inform,” in response to Turnell.

“She additionally expressed how proud she was, particularly of the younger Burmese folks. She was actually pleased with how the folks have been ready to defend and battle for democracy, although their publicity to democracy was very temporary,” Turnell instructed Information 10 ABC.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was referring to the last decade previous to the coup, described on the time as a “transition” interval throughout which Myanmar ended its earlier interval of miltiary rule and her Nationwide League for Democracy authorities was shaped after democratic elections, holding energy from 2015 till its ouster within the army coup of February 2021.

For the reason that coup, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained by the junta, which has convicted her on greater than a dozen fees. Turnell was charged with violating the Official State Secrets and techniques Act.

After the army seized energy, folks across the nation held peaceable anti-coup protests, and younger “Technology Z” demonstrators took to the streets. After the peaceable protests have been violently crushed, many younger folks picked up weapons and began to battle towards the regime, becoming a member of a nationwide resistance motion that has prevented the regime from having the ability to take management of the nation.

Greater than 16,000 folks have been arrested for the reason that coup, and almost 13,000 stay in detention, in response to the Help Affiliation for Political Prisoners, a rights group. Greater than 2,500 pro-democracy activists and civilians have been killed by the army junta over the previous 20 months. Most of these arrested and killed have been younger folks.

Apparently interested in her opinion on the nation’s political state of affairs, army coup chief Min Aung Hlaing stated in December that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was free to remark by way of her legal professionals, together with on the parallel Nationwide Unity Authorities (NUG). Nevertheless, she has but to ship any feedback by way of that channel.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi might pay attention to the sacrifice made by younger folks, and her phrases recommend that she depends on their power, stated a 22-year-old pro-democracy activist kind Longlone Township in Tanintharyi Area.

An 18-year-old Folks’s Protection Pressure (PDF) member from Yinmabin Township in Sagaing Area stated resistance members felt very proud to be praised by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

“We really feel depressed generally in revolution however her phrases elevate us up,” he stated.

A 25-year-old PDF member from Dawei Township in Tanintharyi Area stated the folks can see the true sacrifices made by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and perceive that she cares extra about saving the folks and the nation than herself.

“Ever since we selected the best way of armed battle, I knew that she would say these items,” he added.

Turnell additionally referred to the power of younger folks in his interview, saying it’s straightforward to acknowledge the cleverness, spirit and talent of younger Burmese folks.

“I believe there are numerous good, younger folks out on this planet. I’ve been deeply impressed with the Burmese folks exterior of the nation together with the Nationwide Unity Authorities,” he stated.