MYANMAR: Aung San Suu Kyi campaigning in Northern Shan State calls on military to play positive role in transition

Record ID: 346525

  • Title: MYANMAR: Aung San Suu Kyi campaigning in Northern Shan State calls on military to play positive role in transition
  • Date: 19th March 2012
  • Summary: SHAN STATE, MYANMAR (MARCH 18, 2012) (REUTERS) SUPPORTERS WAITING OUTSIDE THE HOME AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS STAYING INTERIOR VIEW OF THE HOUSE SUU KYI AND SUPPORTERS TAKING PHOTOS SUU KYI'S CONVOY DRIVING TO THE MONASTERY SUU KYI PAYING RESPECT TO THE MONKS VARIOUS OF SUU KYI PAYING RESPECT TO THE MONKS SUU KYI'S CAR LEAVING FROM THE MONASTERY (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI, SAYING: "I think there's a need for the participation of the military for the stability of the transformation period of our country." SUPPORTER LISTENING TO SUU KYI'S SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI, SAYING: "If the military and the people do unite together for the sake of our country, we can reach the development of our country in a very short time." SUPPORTERS CLAPPING TO SUU KYI'S SPEECH SUU KYI'S CARS LEAVING FROM THEINNI TOWNSHIP
  • Embargoed: 3rd April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Myanmar, Myanmar
  • Country: Myanmar
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1K02GUUE1QERAQE6EY7OUAI0
  • Story Text: With just about two weeks left until the April 1 by-elections, pro-democracy leader and head of the National League for Democracy party Aung San Suu Kyi took to the streets of Theinni on Sunday (March 18), a township in northern Shan State, Myanmar, to call on the military to play a stabilising role in the country's historic transition to democracy.
    She said the military's power can be used to help prevent chaos as the country's political landscape goes through significant changes and the country opens up from international isolation.
    "I think there's a need for the participation of the military for the stability of the transformation period of our country," said Suu Kyi.
    Suu Kyi met with former political prisoners and gave a small speech urging her supporters to keep an open mind to the very army that they believe has been oppressing them.
    "If the military and the people do unite together for the sake of our country, we can reach the development of our country in a very short time," Suu Kyi said.
    The by-elections come after a string of ceasefire agreements between the army and the various ethnic groups including the Shan State Army (South).
    A quarter of the seats in parliament are reserved for the military and a party close to the military won a huge majority of the contested seats in the 2010 election. The National League for Democracy boycotted the election. At least 48 seats will be contested in the upcoming April by-election - 40 in the lower house, six in the upper house and two in regional parliaments.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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