Aung, the Authoritarian

I seem to remember having written some time ago that one should refrain from "canonizing" certain political or public figures hastily, just because they may be in the opposition in countries in which there are undemocratic regimes. There is a tendency to celebrate those people; even, to idolize them because they are pro-West, without looking too closely at who they are and how they behave. I also said that I hoped that Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner would not disappoint all her fans in the West.

Well, it's happened. It seems that she is not that democratic, when it comes to dealing with people in her own party and those who are her natural allies, all of whom are seeing a side of her that they do not like and is unbecoming of someone of her stature in and outside her country. Even people who are on her side criticize her sharply for the way she conducts her political business.

For a long time, she was not allowed to leave her house, much less go on a trip. It seems that she is on an extended "ego trip" now.

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