Burma's pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, center, attending a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of a private charity group, the Free Funeral Service Society, on April 23 in Yangon. Suu Kyi expressed her admiration for Indonesia's democratic development via video today. (AP Photo)
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, speaking to Asean members in Jakarta, expressed her admiration for Indonesia’s democratic developments and asked Asean leaders to help develop democracy in Burma.
Speaking via a previously taped video to delegations at the Asean Civil Society Conference and Asean Peoples’ Forum, Suu Kyi said Indonesia has made an admirable transition from authoritarian rule to democratic government.
“We envy you. We want to be like you. We want to achieve what you have managed to achieve,” she said in the video.
Suu Kyi, wearing a bright yellow top with her signature white flower in her hair, said she wanted Burma to achieve more because she wanted the best for her country and people, which in turn would help improve the region and the rest of the world.
“It’s not out of selfishness that I am asking you to help us in our struggle for democracy and our attempts to strengthen civil society in our country,” she said.
The A sean Civil Society Conference and Asean Peoples’ Forum are being held from May 3 to May 5. It is being attended by around 1,330 people from around the world. Recordings of these discussions will be forwarded to leaders at the summit.
-Jakarta Globe-
