(Mizzima)
– The Internet was overflowing with
leaked portions of the speech Aung San Suu Kyi is scheduled to deliver to
Burmese citizens on Wednesday over state-run television.
The
video was posted on YouTube, Facebook and several websites and was quickly
picked up on newspapers websites across the world.
Repeating
familiar themes from recent speeches on the campaign trail, Suu Kyi still made
critical remarks about the newly elected government and the pace of change in
Burma.
Recorded
in the studio of state-run MRTV, she sat
at a desk with her hands folded in front of her. An NLD flag dominates the wall
behind her and a small NLD flag sits on the desk.
Her
remarks, tame by western standards, were never the less a step forward for
Burma, which has repressive prior censorship of political speech in broadcast
and print media. All political parties running in the April 1 by-election were
invited by the government to make speeches to be delivered over state TV and
radio.
Suu Kyi
called for repealing repressive laws, ensuring the judicial system is
independent, allowing full freedom of the media and expanding the network of
social assistance to include legal aid. She also called for amending the 2008
Constitution, which gives the army 25 per cent of the parliamentary seats,
allowing the ruling government to control key votes.
However,
repeating a theme in her campaign speeches, she called for military personnel
to play a constructive role in leading the people toward real democracy.
“According
to Myanmar's political history, I believe that the military must play a role
for the development of the country,” she said. “I also believe that the
military, which was founded by my father, Gen. Aung San, is always ready to
serve in the interest of the country.”
On
Thursday, Mizzima reported that the authorities ordered one paragraph of Suu
Kyi’s prepared speech to be cut, a section that discussed Burma’s laws being
used to repress people’s freedoms. Burma has strict prior censorship laws
regarding political speech.
“I had
to submit my speech ahead of time and one paragraph was censored,” Aung San Suu
Kyi said in an interview. “The part about how there wasn't rule of law and the
military government had repeatedly used the law to repress the people – that is
censored.”
Suu Kyi
is running for a seat in Parliament in the by-election, along with 47 other NLD
candidates.
She has
encountered numerous obstacles from state authorities during her campaign trips
across the country. On February 14, NLD officials held a press conference to
discuss various incidents, including the NLD’s failure to find a large venue in
Mandalay to hold a mass rally on February 4 and 5, after various authorities
rejected NLD requests for venues. The NLD had to postpone the planned Mandalay
campaign tour and reschedule it for early March.
It also
applied to hold a mass rally in a sports area in Pyapon in Irrawaddy Region on
February 17, but the Ministry of Sports refused permission. The rally was held
on a sand dune on the outskirts of Pyapon, where an estimated 40,000 people
heard her speak. The sports ministry also refused access to a football ground
in Hlegu Township in Rangoon Region on February 15. After publicity, the UEC
overruled the ministry decision and permission was granted to hold a rally on
the sports field.
Western
governments are closely watching the election for signs that it is not free,
fair and transparent. High-level Burmese officials have repeatedly said that
the April 1 election would be free and fair, but numerous incidents have shown
that the NLD is fighting a battle just to get its message out to the public.
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment