Myanmar - Burmese reforms are not ‘irreversible’: Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi said she doesn't fear the Burmese army taking over the government “too much,” but the reforms over the past year are not yet “irreversible.”

In an interview with Voice of America in Washington on Tuesday, she said the pace of political change in Burma over the past two years is startling, and the army has not yet committed itself to total change, which would include changing elements of the Constitution, which gives it exceptional power over the civilian-led government.

“Under the present constitution, the army can always take over all parts of government if they think this is necessary. So until the army comes out clearly and consistently in support of the democratic process, we cannot say that it's irreversible. But I don't think we need fear a reversal too much either,” she said.

Suu Kyi said she supported the lifting of US trade sanctions on Burma because it is time for the Burmese people to stand on their own.

“There have been many claims that sanctions have hurt Burma economically, but I did not agree with that point of view. If you look at reports by the IMF [International Monetary Fund], for example, they make quite clear that the economic impact on Burma has not been that great. But I think the political impact has been very great, and that has helped us in our struggle for democracy,” she said.

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