Nearly nine years ago, the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi reluctantly decided to participate in the by-elections to the parliament on April 1, 2012, after two-decades of military repression. She was denied a 1991 election verdict to rule, and in the interregnum survived an assassination attempt in 2003. After promulgating the 2008 constitution, the military decided to hold general elections in 2010, as part of a military-designed seven-step roadmap to democracy.
The NLD leader had earlier termed the whole process an instance of sham democracy.
Myanmar became the diplomatic toast in 2012 as world leaders, including the U.S. President Barack Obama, descended to what was considered as a potential democratic stronghold in Southeast Asia and China’s backyard. To her credit, the NLD leader was resolute in her cautiousness as the western leaders sought her advice on how to approach President Thein Sein’s government.