T-Shirt maker rides wave of Suu Kyi fervour

MYANMAR: If roaring sales of his Aung San Suu Kyi T-shirts are a yardstick, then businessman Swe Yie thinks Myanmar's tentative steps to democracy are on the right track.

The father-of-two is struggling to keep up with demand for his shirts bearing the images of the Nobel laureate and her revered late father General Aung San in recent weeks as the regime eases its iron grip on the nation.

"Before, you wouldn't even dare talk about 'The Lady' much less openly sell any merchandise that would be associated with her," Swe Yie said at his shop.

"These shirts are our best sellers now," the 56-year-old told AFP.

The low-quality garments fetch about one or two dollars apiece, and at a print run of more than 3,000 a day, Swe Yie said it was fair to say he could dream of running a business empire soon.

His success is all the more surprising because his tiny shop is located just metres (feet) away from the nearest police station, in a country where the authorities previously crushed any sign of political dissent. AFP