Sequestered Suu Kyi Overshadows Myanmar’s Military-Controlled Elections.
Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in military detention since the 2021 coup, continues to cast a long shadow over the junta-run elections, which the generals present as a return to democracy.
The Nobel laureate and former icon of democratic transition saw her National League for Democracy (NLD) swept to victory in 2020, only for the military to annul the results, dissolve her party, and imprison her in total isolation. Her absence has intensified unrest, from street protests to guerrilla resistance, while Suu Kyi remains a symbol of democracy for her supporters despite international criticism over the Rohingya crisis.
The second phase of the three-part election began Sunday, with her Kawhmu constituency near Yangon contested under strict military rules. Observers say the polls are unlikely to be free or fair, highlighting the lasting impact of her seclusion.
Known as “The Lady”, Suu Kyi has spent around two decades under detention. She is the daughter of Aung San, the founder of Myanmar’s armed forces, and was born on June 19, 1945, in Japanese-occupied Yangon.
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