Myanmar's Self-goal

Sources: The Times of India

According to the new law, any person who has ever been convicted of a crime is to be barred from contesting in the general elections slated for later this year. Suu Kyi, who has spent almost a decade and half under house arrest, is accused of giving shelter to an American last year, therefore violating the terms of her house arrest.

Never mind that it has now been established that the man came uninvited. But the effect of the new law would not only be to keep Suu Kyi from contesting polls. Her party, the National League for Democracy, too could be debarred if it doesn't expel her. When the world was hoping that the generals would do more to open up the country, this looks like a giant step backwards.

Western governments, which had for long shunned Myanmar, were coming around to the view that engaging its government and subsequently integrating Myanmar into the international fold is perhaps a better policy.

After almost a decade and half, the US reached out to Myanmar last year, sending its top diplomats to begin a dialogue. The diplomats were in turn allowed to meet Suu Kyi.

But the latest move to keep Suu Kyi out of active politics would not only aid critics of the policy of engaging Myanmar, it would also alienate fellow members of ASEAN. New Delhi should offer friendly advice to the Myanmarese government not to turn the clock back in the region.