MYANMAR: Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will run in an upcoming by-election, said NLD spokesman

Record ID: 572950

  • Title: MYANMAR: Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will run in an upcoming by-election, said NLD spokesman
  • Date: 22nd November 2011
  • Summary: YANGON, MYANMAR (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY (NLD) VARIOUS OF PARTY MEMBER IN FRONT OF NLD OFFICE
  • Embargoed: 7th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Myanmar, Myanmar
  • Country: Myanmar
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACFJMWIMPHAVIVKBVROX7Q5RJ3
  • Story Text: Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will run in a parliamentary by-election expected by the end of the year, a top party official said on Monday (November 21), giving legitimacy to moves towards democracy after decades of military rule.
    It will be the first time the Nobel Peace Prize laureate contests a seat herself, having not stood as a candidate in her National League for Democracy's (NLD) 1990 election landslide, which was ignored by the then-military regime and led to her lengthy incarceration.
    "Daw Aung San Suu Kyi intends to stand for the upcoming by-election but it hasn't been decided yet from which constituency she will run," Nyan Win, a member of the NLD's executive committee, said.
    Suu Kyi is the daughter of late independence hero Aung San and a staunch opponent of the military dictators who ruled Myanmar until nominally handing power to a civilian parliament in March.
    She spent 15 of the previous 21 years in detention before her release from house arrest a year ago.
    On Friday (November 18), her National League for Democracy voted unanimously to register the party, which was officially dissolved last year by the then-military regime.
    Nyan Win said that the NLD would run by the same party name but its structure and policies would change.
    "The name of the party will not be changed when it is registered. It will be just National League for Democracy Party. However, there will be changes in party structure, policy, logo, and so on," said Nyan Win.
    He added that the party would try to appeal to the younger generation as well as ethnic minorities.
    "When we nominate our candidates, priority will be given to young people and ethnic members and we also have plan to invite young political activists," said Nyan Win.
    She had earlier given no indication she was interested in becoming a lawmaker but has always referred to herself as a politician.
    Her decision comes after Myanmar won a powerful endorsement on Friday, with U.S. President Barack Obama announcing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would visit the resource-rich country neighbouring China next month, citing "flickers of progress".
    Myanmar recently amended a political party law removing a clause barring anyone convicted of a crime from joining a party or taking part in an election, paving the way for those who had served a prison term, including Suu Kyi, to contest the polls.
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