Aung San Suu Kyi: Some Hope in Burma?

Is there a thaw emerging between Burma’s (Myanmar) Aung San Suu Kyi and the military Government? A latest news report says that detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has expressed her readiness to work with the military Government in the process aimed at bringing political reconciliation.

“In the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the Government in order to make this process of dialogue a success and welcome the necessary good and welcome role of the United Nations to help facilitate our efforts in this regard,” Suu Kyi said in a statement which was released by United Nations Envoy Ibrahim Gambari on her behalf.

According to The Times of India: “The statement was given to Gambari by Suu Kyi during their meeting in Yangon yesterday. Gambari read out the statement on arrival in Singapore.

“In an encouraging sign that the military junta might be softening its stand, it invited Gambari for another visit which, a United Nations spokesperson said, would take place within the next few weeks. It also allowed Suu Kyi to meet with her party leaders.”

A Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for four years, and has spent 11 years in detention since her party – the National League for Democracy – and its allies won the 1990 election with over 80 per cent of the parliamentary seats. But the military junta refused to recognize the elections.

Another news report says that similar apparent breakthroughs have occurred in the past and optimists have been proved wrong each time. For details click here…

The IHT reports: Aung San Suu Kyi met Friday with members of her party, the National League for Democracy, for the first time in three years and held talks with Aung Kyi, the general appointed as a liaison by Myanmar’s military government, news agencies reported from Yangon.