Irrawaddy-Aug 27
The junta-controlled Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday to auction off Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s residence at 54 University Avenue in Yangon reflects the regime’s eagerness to banish every trace of the ousted civilian leader from Myanmar. On the surface, it appears to be no more than the latest twist in a long-running inheritance dispute between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her estranged elder brother U Aung San Oo. But 54 University Avenue is not just a house; the site is a symbol of the democracy struggle in Myanmar, as it is where Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was confined for 15 years by the previous military governments, which called themselves the State Law and Order Restoration Council and the State Peace and Development Council. For years, U Aung San Oo repeatedly called for the auction of the residence and a share of the proceeds. Following the coup, however, Min Aung Hlaing is only too happy to grant U Aung San Oo his wish, delivering another heavy blow to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. At the same time, he will feel he has been able to erase from history one of the most important embodiments of opposition to military rule. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi wished to turn the residence into a museum and also use it for philanthropic works of the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, which she set up and named after her mother. US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon are among the international dignitaries who visited Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the lakeside residence during their terms of office. Read more at:
