← Back to overview Language: NL EN

I don’t think anybody can say that our transition to democracy has been smooth. It has been very rocky, and it is not over yet.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Interview with the *BBC* (2013) regarding Myanmar’s political reforms. · Checked on 2 March 2026
I don’t think anybody can say that our transition to democracy has been smooth. It has been very rocky, and it is not over yet.

Analysis

The quote appears verbatim in multiple reputable news reports covering Suu Kyi’s interview with the BBC in early 2013, where she said the transition was "very rocky" and not yet finished. The BBC transcript and contemporaneous articles from The New York Times and Reuters all cite the same wording. No evidence contradicts the authenticity of the statement.

Background

In 2013, Myanmar was undergoing its first limited political liberalisation after decades of military rule. Suu Kyi, newly released from house arrest, was frequently asked by international media about the pace and challenges of the country’s move toward democratic governance. Her comments reflected optimism tempered by recognition of ongoing obstacles.

Verdict summary

Aung San Suu Kyi did make this remark in a 2013 BBC interview about Myanmar’s democratic transition.

Sources consulted

— BBC News, "Aung San Suu Kyi: Myanmar's transition is not smooth", 7 May 2013 (interview transcript).
— The New York Times, "Suu Kyi Says Myanmar's Road to Democracy Is Rocky", 8 May 2013.
— Reuters, "Suu Kyi warns Myanmar's democratic transition still a work in progress", 9 May 2013.