MYANMAR-ELECTION/SUU KYI Aung San Suu Kyi campaigns in Myanmar's Kawhmu township

Record ID: 134723

  • Title: MYANMAR-ELECTION/SUU KYI Aung San Suu Kyi campaigns in Myanmar's Kawhmu township
  • Date: 24th October 2015
  • Summary: KAWHMU TOWNSHIP, YANGON, MYANMAR (OCTOBER 24, 2015) (REUTERS) NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, STANDING THROUGH THE SUNROOF OF A VEHICLE DRIVING UP SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTERS SUU KYI GETTING OUT OF CAR AND WALKING TOWARDS STAGE SUU KYI WALKING ON STAGE PEOPLE SITTING SUU KYI TALKING ON STAGE AND SUPPORTERS SITTING SUU KYI TALKING ON STAGE PEOPLE
  • Embargoed: 8th November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Myanmar
  • Country: Burma (Myanmar)
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3DEJMDOCNXO067I14N8U0QT59
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Myanmar opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, said she would rather lose the election than win through scandals as she campaigned in her constituency on the fringes of Myanmar's commercial capital, Yangon on Saturday (October 24).
    Wearing red shirts and waving party flags, hundreds of supporters in Kawhmu Township welcomed Suu Kyi , who led the struggle against military rule in the former Burma for two decades.
    The Nov. 8 election will give more space to democratic activists, who were crushed during a half-century of military rule that ended in 2011, ushering in the semi-civilian, military-backed government of President Thein Sein which released political prisoners and opened the country's economy.
    "Our National League for Democracy Party wants to win by a landslide in the election but only the right way, with pride. I would like to say that we don't want to win the election through dirty methods. We think that it is better to lose than win with scandals," Suu Kyi said.
    Myanmar's Nov. 8 poll has been touted as the country's first free and fair vote in 25 years and a major landmark that will determine the pace and scope of democratic reforms that started four years ago.
    Myanmar's ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is expected to be trounced by Suu Kyi's NLD.
    One NLD supporter was concerned what would happen if Suu Kyi won the election.
    "I hear that the present government will not hand over their power to Mother Suu even if she wins the elections. I am worried this could happen. I want Mother Suu to get power and win the election," said Ohn Mar Cho, a 45-year old local resident in Kawhmu.
    The current constitution reserves 25 percent of parliamentary seats and key cabinet posts for the military and effectively bars Suu Kyi from the presidency.
    The NLD won a 1990 election in a landslide, but the results were never recognized by the military.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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