Suu Kyi’s Compassion and Wisdom The Voice of Hope: Conversations with Alan Clements. Penguin Books, 1997 Reviewed by Whitney Stewart If adversity drives personal and political inspiration, Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace laureate from Burma, and her colleagues U Kyi Maung and U Tin U, have more than just cause for their loquacity and their thoughtful, analytical approach to planning a democratic government for Burma. Like millions of their compatriots, all three leaders have experienced solitary detention, separation from family, loss of basic human rights, and cruelty by Burma's repressive military regime, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, SLORC. All three have faced inner weaknesses and built a fortitude that allows them to view their lives, their sufferings, and their captors with detachment, and often with humor. And finally, all three rely heavily on Buddhist principles and meditation practice to stay optimistic and determined to bring a fair, multi-party government to Burma. For this dense collection of conversations, credited by the publisher to Aung San Suu Kyi, but authored by Alan Clements - in Burma, he transcribed and edited 100 hours of interviews and destroyed the tapes before eight SLORC airport officials searched his bags and computer files - these three democratic leaders talked extensively and sometimes repetitiously about forgiveness for and reconciliation with SLORC, the need for true Buddhist principles in government, and the benefits of constant mental freedom. Some of the conversations make introspective readers pause and pose similar questions of themselves; others beg for slightly tighter editing. In one interview session, Aung San Suu Kyi told Clements that her greatest sense of purpose is the cause for democracy. She spoke about working very long hours but never revealed the inner machinations of a party that won an election in 1990 but was never allowed to take the reins of power. She also elaborated on her view that violence is not an effective tool for Burmese citizens: "If you want to establish a strong tradition of democracy in this country one of the basic principles of achieving it is that you bring about political change peacefully through consulting the will of the people via the ballot box and not through force of arms." What Aung San Suu Kyi would not talk about was the democratic party's (the National League for Democracy) specific economic and political plans, nor about her present private life. In a recent intense,' Clements explained, "She invited me to ask any question that I wanted and to respect her to answer in any way that she wanted. That was all that she asked of me and I respected that as fully as I could." Aung San Suu Kyi does have a unique way of responding eloquently without actually answering the question posed. Only she knows her reasons for doing this. To avoid defying Aung San Suu Kyi is tricky for her many supporters; she is a woman of such sincerity, warmth, intelligence, and dedication that people often love her instantaneously. However, as she told Clements, she does not want to be viewed as a bodhisattva – a person seeking perfect wisdom and compassion - but as an ordinary person who strives for self-improvement and who hopes she never takes a wrong step for her people. After reading Aung San Suu Kyi's heartfelt dialogue, readers may ask an essential question: If Burma's repressive military regime were out of the way, could Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy stabilize and run a nonviolent, harmonious Burma? Nobody can test an answer yet, but many have a strong faith in the National League for Democracy. Clements answered with an unequivocal yes. "They will succeed in gaining democracy. I'm convinced that the people of Burma will achieve their cherished goal and the more people in the world that help them now the sooner that goal will be achieved. The NLD will not only be able to hold the country together, they will see that it prospers." One can only hope that Clements is right, and that Aung San Suu Kyi, U Kyi Maung, and U Tin U soon have the chance to put their compassion and wisdom into democratic practice. Whitney Stewart is the author of Aung San Suu Kyi – Fearless Voice of Burma (Lerner Publications Company/Minneapolis, 1997). |
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