Sandt triumftog for den standhaftige kvinde
Crowds of cheering supporters in rural Burma have turned out to welcome opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on her first campaign stop ahead of by-elections (suppleringsvalg) scheduled for April.
Ms Suu Kyi (66), who is standing in the constituency of Kawhmu, was released from house arrest shortly after parliamentary elections in 2010, BBC online reports Saturday.
Her party won a landslide victory in elections in 1990 but was never allowed by the military junta to take power. In all, 48 seats are being contested now.
Supporters waved the flag of the National League for Democracy (NLD) as Ms Suu Kyi arrived in Kawhmu on Saturday.
“We warmly welcome mother Suu!” and “Long live Daw [Aunt] Aung San Suu Kyi!” they shouted at the women, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.
Even if the NLD wins all 48 seats, it cannot threaten the military-backed government’s hold on power. The party boycotted the 2010 elections.
However, April’s vote has enormous symbolic importance.
Burmas reformer
7 Nov 2010: First polls in 20 years
13 Nov: Aung San Suu Kyi freed from house arrest
30 Mar 2011: Transfer of power to new government complete
19 Aug: Aung San Suu Kyi meets Burmese President Thein Sein
12 Oct: More than 200 political prisoners freed
13 Oct: New labour laws allowing unions passed
17 Nov: Burma granted Asean chair in 2014
23 Dec: NLD registers as political party
12 Jan: Karen ceasefire signed
13 Jan: Highest-profile political prisoners freed
Kilde: BBC
