- Title: BURMA: CROWDS GATHER TO HEAR AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S WEEKEND ADDRESS
- Date: 30th June 1996
- Summary: RANGOON, BURMA (JUNE 30, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV CROWD WAITING IN FRONT OF PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SUU KYI'S HOUSE 0.05 2. SLV SUU KYI'S WOMEN SUPPORTERS CONTROLLING CROWD 0.08 3. SV WOMEN SUPPORTERS HOLDING HANDS IN FRONT OF CROWD 0.13 4. SV WOMAN SUPPORTER 0.16 5. SV BUDDHIST MONKS IN CROWD AT SUU KYI'S HOUSE 0.22 6. SV SUU KYI APPEARS AT TOP OF GATE AT HER HOUSE 0.26 7. CU MONKS CHEERING 0.29 8. SV SUU KYI ADDRESSING CROWD (BURMESE) 0.37 9. LV SUU KYI AT GATE, FLANKED BY GUARDS 0.47 10.CU SUU KYI SPEAKING (BURMESE) 1.02 11.SV SUPPORTER IN CROWD RECORDING SUU KYI'S SPEECH 1.07 12.SV SUU KYI JOKING WITH CROWD 1.13 13.SV SUU KYI GUARD STANDING NEAR CROWD 1.17 14.SLV ANOTHER BURMESE LEADER ADDRESSING CROWD 1.22 15.CU SUU KYI SMILING 1.27 16.SV CROWD LISTENING 1.31 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 15th July 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: RANGOON, BURMA
- City:
- Country: Burma (Myanmar)
- Reuters ID: LVA3JSYBZCHF7CBQRTNMW42UIBGH
- Story Text: INTRO: The Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has demonstrated her widespread popularity despite a sustained media campaign to force her out of politics.
Crowds gathered outside the gates of Aung San Suu Kyi's house on Sunday (June 30) to hear her weekend address.
They cheered loudly as the Burmese pro-democracy leader delivered her speech, showing that the month-long official media campaign to force her to abandon politics was having little effect.
On Monday (July 1), the official media said the people were afraid that other women would follow Suu Kyi's example and marry foreign men.
The commentary in state-run Burmese-language newspapers said: "What should she do? Some ask her to leave the country. But she should try to abandon politics and co-operate in serving the people by using what she has studied.
"Followers generally follow in the footsteps of their leader.
If Daw Aung San Suu Kyi became leader, most women would follow in her footsteps (and marry foreigners)." Suu Kyi, married to British academic Michael Aris, is head of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
The NLD won a huge victory in a 1990 poll but was not allowed to take power because the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) did not recognise the results.
Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace prize winner, has been calling for democracy and dialogue with the military rulers since being freed from six years of house arrest last July.
But the SLORC has not answered her request and recently launched a sweeping crackdown on democracy politicians, arresting more than 250 dissidents ahead of a controversial NLD congress in late May.
The crackdown has focused international attention on Burma.
The prison death of an honorary consul 10 days ago has increased these concerns.
Jorgen Reimers, Denmark's ambassador to Thailand and Burma, said on Monday he expected to meet soon with officials to discuss the death of 65-year old James Leander (Leo) Nichols, a former honorary consul for Norway and representative for Denmark, Finland and Switzerland.
Reimers said representatives from all four European nations would be in Rangoon for a memorial service for Nichols due to be held on July 6 and would issue a joint statement.
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