Au san suu kyi biography of barack biden

The woman who was once the world's most famous political prisoner is now wearing the less glamorous mantle of a mere politician. Aung San Suu Kyi's re-election last weekend as chair of the party she helped found 35 years ago was one of the few certainties in today's Burma. As one of the party elders said, without her the National League for Democracy is meaningless.

Aung san suu kyi children

The aura surrounding her is still an extraordinary thing to witness. Her appearance - and she is always impeccably dressed - at any public event, is akin to watching the arrival of royalty, or a Hollywood superstar. Even seasoned diplomats are reduced to begging for photos with her like gushing fans. When she turns her attention to you, her charm and charisma can be overpowering.

It is hard to imagine any other result in the election that is due in three years' time than a resounding victory for the NLD, essentially on the back of the reverence for her. But preparing her party for government is another matter. During the long years of her incarceration, the party atrophied. Many of its members were jailed - and some died in custody.

The NLD was left in the hands of a few elderly loyalists, known as the uncles. It is poorly organised, beset by internal bickering, and desperately short of money. Last weekend's Congress was supposed to improve this. But the newly elected central committee is not hugely different to the old one. There were complaints, too, about the less than democratic way delegates were chosen in some parts of the country.