Survey: South East Asia: The agony of the other lands

• Published in: The Economist (London) Vol. 354; no. 8157; p. S11
• Main Author: Markillie, Paul
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: London The Economist Intelligence Unit N.A., Incorporated 12.02.2000
• Subjects: Armed forces; Aung San Suu Kyi; Coalition governments; Democracy; Diplomatic & consular services; Economic conditions; Economic reform; House arrest; Political activism; Political behavior; Prime ministers; Vietnam; Myanmar (Burma)
• ISSN: 0013-0613; 1476-8860

Myanmar has long been ruled by military governments, the latest of which seized power in a coup in 1988. The opposition is the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. In 1990, the generals decided to hold an election, convinced that their popularity would ensure an easy victory for them. Kyi, already under house arrest, led her party to an overwhelming victor. The generals refused to accept the result and since then have relentlessly harassed and persecuted Kyi and her supporters. For now, Myanmar remains in a stalemate. Both the generals and Kyi are as stubborn as one another. They have all the guns, but she has the moral high ground. The pressure on Myanmar is now coming from the East as well as the West. There are signs that Myanmar is ready to undertake political and economic reform. Vietnam is either a country of lost opportunity or a lucky escape from the forces of globalization. With other parts of Southeast Asia recovering strongly, Vietnam risks becoming even less attractive to foreign investors than it is now.