Five years ago I was at a conference in Washington for students interested in working towards peace in Darfur. It was then I first learned about Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Price-winning leader from Burma (Myanmar). I was inspired by her work to get her people out from under the heel of an oppressive military regime--millions of people displaced, ethnic oppression and intimidation, forced labor, sexual violence, etc.
A few days after the conference (2010), she was released from 15 years under house arrest for her work to bring democracy to the country.
A little over three years ago, I drove to Indiana to hear her speak and sat with hundreds of people from her home country who view her as a hero (as I do).
And in the past few days, Myanmar held elections, seen as the most democratic in 25 years.
Tonight, the AP reports that Daw Suu Kyi has won her seat in Parliament--note that she is not allowed to be president because the military specifically wrote a law to block her from the position. However, her party is expected to win most of the seats in the government.
This is a HUMONGOUS step for Burma and also a test for this new government, as hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are still persecuted in the largely Buddhist country (and have been blocked from voting).
I am incredibly happy to see the beginnings of change (assuming, of course, the military steps down and allows new leadership). I am also hopeful that the new government is representative of all people in Burma.
