YANGON, Myanmar — The National Unity Party (NLD) has issued a defiant statement asserting that no political solution can be reached in Myanmar without the direct involvement of its detained leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
In a social media statement released on Saturday, the party emphasized that the Nobel laureate remains the only leader with a legitimate democratic mandate to lead the country out of its current multifaceted crisis.
There is no path to peace that bypasses Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” the party stated, highlighting the catastrophic state of the nation’s economy, security, and social fabric since the 2021 military coup. “Her role is indispensable in the process of national healing and democratic restoration.”
Political analysts suggest that despite the emergence of new revolutionary actors and alliances over the past five years, the 80-year-old leader’s influence over the majority of the population remains unparalleled. “Regardless of who attempts to mediate, any deal that sidelines her will lack the public legitimacy required to succeed,” one Yangon-based observer told MPA.
The NLD’s statement comes at a critical juncture as the sham government—led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing—attempts to move forward with a managed election cycle for 2025-2026. International bodies, including members of the Australian Parliament, have already called for the rejection of these upcoming polls, labeling them a “mockery of democracy.”
Activists argue that the military’s continued isolation of Ms. Suu Kyi is a strategic attempt to use her as a political bargaining chip while simultaneously trying to erase her political legacy. “They are holding her hostage to gain leverage and reduce international pressure,” a human rights activist noted. “By refusing her access to legal counsel and outside contact, the junta is admitting they are terrified of her voice.”
The detention of Ms. Suu Kyi and thousands of other political prisoners remains the primary obstacle to any credible dialogue. While the National Unity Government (NUG) and ethnic armed organizations have expanded their control over vast swathes of rural Myanmar, the “free Aung San Suu Kyi” movement continues to be a unifying cry for the resistance.
The NLD’s latest declaration serves as a firm reminder to the international community that any proposed “political exit” manufactured by the military is unacceptable to the democratic forces.
As the conflict shows no signs of abating, the message from the NLD is clear: the road to Myanmar’s future must pass through the release and inclusion of the leader the people chose. Without her, the nation remains locked in a cycle of violence that shows no sign of resolution.
