Myanmar tells Suu Kyi to stay out of politics
Myanmar: Myanmar’s regime Wednesday told pro-democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi to halt all political activities and warned her that plans
for a national political tour could spark riots and chaos.
Official media said the home affairs ministry had written to the
Nobel Peace Prize winner, who spent most of the past two decades locked
up at the hands of the junta, stating that her party’s activities had
already broken the law.
It is the first time since her release last year that the authorities
have explicitly warned Suu Kyi to stay out of politics. Her immediate
response indicated she had no intention of cancelling the planned tour
indefinitely.
“We cannot stay away from the people when doing politics,” she told a
meeting of youth members of her National League for Democracy (NLD)
party.
Asked by AFP about the tour, she said, “I will go,” but added: “We
have to wait for the right weather conditions.”
No schedule has been announced for the democracy icon’s trip around
Myanmar, also known as Burma. Security is a major concern as Suu Kyi’s
convoy was attacked in 2003 in an ambush apparently organised by a
regime frightened by her popularity. A political tour would be a test of
both the 66-year-old’s popularity following an election that has left
her sidelined from politics, and of her freedom to travel around the
country unhindered by official intervention.
Suu Kyi also held around one hour of talks Wednesday with a senior
Japanese diplomat who was visiting to assess the political climate. The
state-run New Light of Myanmar reported that the home affairs ministry
had informed Suu Kyi that her party was breaking the law by maintaining
party offices, holding meetings and issuing statements.
“If they really want to accept and practise democracy effectively,
they are to stop such acts that can harm peace and stability and the
rule of law as well as the unity among the people including monks and
service personnel,” it said.
The democracy icon was freed in November after seven straight years
of house arrest, less than a week after an election in Myanmar that
critics said was a charade aimed at preserving military rule behind a
civilian facade. AFP
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