Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on for freedom of speech in army-ruled Myanmar, urged thousands of supporters to stand up for their rights, and indicated she may urge the West to end sanctions. Suu Kyi's first major speech since being freed from seven years of house arrest a day earlier left little doubt she would resume an influential political role in Myanmar, one of the world's most isolated and oppressive countries.
"The basis of democratic freedom is freedom of speech," she said to roaring cheers from thousands of supporters crammed into a cordoned-off street in front of her party's headquarters. "You have to stand up for what is right," Suu Kyi added.
The 65-year-old Nobel peace laureate, who had lost none of her ability to rouse and mesmerise crowds, offered an olive branch to the military junta, saying she had no antagonism for those who kept her detained for 15 of the past 21 years. She said, "let's meet and talk."
Diplomats expect Suu Kyi to work with the West to end sanctions she once supported but which are now seen by many as contributing to chronic economic problems in the country of 50 million people where a third of the population live in poverty.
She spoke outside the headquarters of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
She spoke outside the headquarters of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
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| Bogyoke Aung San Family (1947), Daw Khin Kyi (wife), Aung San Oo (eldest son), Aung San Linn (second son) and Aung San Suu Kyi |
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| Suu Kyi with her parents (another old photo) |
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| Aung San Suu kyi in front of her father’s picture |
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