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The Lady Myanmar’s generals can’t defeat

June 29, 2025

Aung San Suu Kyi, now 80 years old, remains imprisoned in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup, currently serving a 27-year sentence in harsh isolation. Despite having no weapons and being physically frail, "The Lady" is deeply feared by Myanmar's military generals because she possesses something they cannot take by force: the overwhelming trust and support of the people, demonstrated through her party's landslide electoral victories from 1990 to 2020. Her unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance and democratic principles has made her the target of repeated arrests, totaling 19 years in detention to date, yet she has survived imprisonment, isolation, and assassination attempts, earning her the nickname "The Iron Rose" among supporters who continue to fight for democracy in Myanmar.

Who is affected

  • Aung San Suu Kyi, now 80 years old and imprisoned
  • Myanmar's citizens who support democratic governance
  • Political prisoners in Myanmar
  • The young Gen Z fighters and revolutionary generation
  • Myanmar's military generals who fear losing power
  • The Rohingya people (mentioned in context of the crisis that damaged her international reputation)

What action is being taken

  • Aung San Suu Kyi is being held in isolation at an undisclosed location, denied access to her family
  • Supporters across Myanmar are praying for her release on her birthday
  • Young Gen Z fighters are taking up arms under the banner "Eradicate the Fascist Military"
  • The military is continuing daily killings, bombings, and mass arrests
  • Protesters in cities and fighters in the jungle are continuing the struggle for democracy

Why it matters

  • Aung San Suu Kyi represents legitimate democratic governance in Myanmar, having won overwhelming electoral mandates
  • Her imprisonment symbolizes the military's fear of democracy and popular mandate
  • At 80, she has become one of the world's most repeatedly imprisoned political leaders and the oldest woman political prisoner globally
  • Her commitment to nonviolence and democracy has been consistent since 1988, making her a powerful symbol of resistance
  • The 2021 coup shattered decades-long hope for reconciliation between democratic forces and the military

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices

The Lady Myanmar’s generals can’t defeat