Given the complexity of Myanmar’s polity, where the military is unlikely to cede full control to a civilian government, the picture of Aung San Suu Kyi shaking hands with the country’s military chief augurs well for its democracy (“Myanmar’s slow, incomplete transition to democracy”, Mar.29). Friends of democracy will be happy that the same military that denied Ms. Suu Kyi the presidency is reportedly willing to concede four ministerial births to her, including the foreign ministry. Her close associate, Htin Kyaw, has been given the presidency though she is likely to retain control. Nature has endowed Myanmar with abundant natural resources like oil, gas and timber, but 90 per cent of its population still lives in poverty. Muslim Rohingya, a stateless minority group, have been forced into overcrowded refugee camps and live in fear of majoritarian groupings. Only time will tell how Ms. Suu Kyi is going to improve her country’s democratic credentials and bring succour to the poor and the persecuted minority.
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Kangayam R. Narasimhan,
Chennai