Suu Kyi To Embark On First Trip Abroad In 24 Years

[webfact]

Suu Kyi to embark on first trip abroad in 24 years

by Hla Hla Htay

YANGON, May 29, 2012 (AFP) - Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi heads to Thailand Tuesday for her first trip abroad in more than two decades, ending an era of isolation and cementing her arrival on the global stage.

The former political prisoner, who won a seat in parliament in historic April by-elections, is expected to meet the Thai prime minister, attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia and meet Myanmar communities during several days in the country.

Suu Kyi, who spent 15 of the past 22 years under house arrest, will emerge into a world transformed, with the skyscrapers and frenetic activity of Bangkok presenting a stark contrast to her sleepy home city of Yangon, regularly beset by power outages.

She is due to arrive in Bangkok around 1440 GMT. Her plan to leave Myanmar for the first time since 1988 comes as dramatic changes sweep the country, after decades of outright military rule ended last year.

Suu Kyi, fearful that she would never be allowed to return, had refused to travel abroad in the past, even when the former junta denied her dying husband a visa to visit her from Britain.

Trevor Wilson, a visiting fellow at the Australian National University, said her plans for foreign travel -- including a proposed European tour in June -- would be a key sign of the changes under a new reformist regime.

"It will demonstrate that the government allows her not only to travel, but also to return to Myanmar afterwards and continue her political activities," he told AFP.

Suu Kyi will meet Thai premier Yingluck Shinawatra during her trip, but the timing has not yet to be confirmed, the prime minister's secretary general Thawat Boonfeung told AFP.

Suu Kyi is also set to visit Myanmar migrant workers in Samut Sakhon province, south of Bangkok, on Wednesday according to local activists.

Thailand's workforce is heavily reliant on low-cost foreign workers, both legal and trafficked, with Myanmar nationals accounting for around 80 percent of the two million registered foreign workers in the country.

Suu Kyi is also expected to travel to the north of the country to meet some of the roughly 100,000 refugees displaced by conflict in Myanmar's eastern border areas.

The Nobel laureate is scheduled to speak in an open discussion with World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab and appear at a session on the role of Asian women on Friday.

Suu Kyi's European travel plans include an address to an International Labour Organization conference in Geneva on June 14.

After that she will make a speech in Oslo on June 16 to finally accept the Nobel Peace Prize she was awarded in 1991 for her peaceful struggle for democracy, according to the Nobel Committee.

She also intends to travel to Britain, where she lived for years with her family, and will address parliament in London on June 21.

Myanmar President Thein Sein, who is credited with a string of reforms that have prompted the international community to ease sanctions, has postponed his official visit to Thailand, which would have clashed with Suu Kyi's trip.

He will now travel to the country on June 4 and 5, according to the Thai foreign ministry.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-05-29

[webfact]

WEF

Aung San Suu Kyi's itinerary in Thailand

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After landing at 9.45pm today, Myanmar's Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi plans numerous activities in Thailand in four days, including visits to Myanmarese camps and unconfirmed talk with Thailand's opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and member of parliament for Myanmar's Kawhmu constituency will start her first day with a trip to Mahachai, Samut Sakhon, where tens of thousand Myanmarese migrant workers are. In the afternoon, she will return to Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, to join the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum on East Asia.

On May 31, she would stay all day at the hotel to attend sessions and join the welcome dinner party. On June 1, in a plenary session, she will have a one-on-one conversation with Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. At 11am, she will join a panel discussion on "Asian Women as the Way Forward". During the day, she will have a discussion with Abhisit but the time is not confirmed yet.

On the next year, she would head to Mae La shelter in Tak province. Meetings with ethnic leaders in Mae Sod and Cynthia Maung - the famous Karen volunteer who treats victims of Myanmar’s civil war, refugees and migrant workers on the border - to visit her clinic in Mae Sot.

On June 3, she would board her flight home.

-- The Nation 2012-05-29

[MickGC]

Congratulations Aung San Suu Kyi. It must be a great weight off your shoulders being able to travel again without fear of exile or arrest. I am sure you will play a big part in Myanmar's future.

I have been following your story with great interest for over 30 years. Myself and my Thai better half had a Burmese refugee living with us in Australia for many years.

[a99az]

What wonderful news, so glad she is at last free. Good luck and best wishes.

[Scott]

A very determined lady, that's for sure.

She will be one very bright spot at the forum.

[ozziebloke]

She is one of the most generous, gracious and greatest of person that has ever walked this earth !!!

[HughJass]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

[silent]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

Yes and let us not forget behind the global appearance now that the world is really flat and non white people do not belong in the USA, etc.,etc.

Cripes!

[RogueLeader]

Is she after a fake Rolex?

*looks at sky*

*whistles*

[RogueLeader]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

Yes. I'm not convinced that this isn't a big PR push on the part of the Burmese that the West is willingly entertaining so they have a premise for abandoning the embargo.

A few rich Bamar are about to get richer.

[Jonathanukthai]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

Who cares what her father did, they aren't the same person.

[Chopperboy]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war

He also summary tried & attempted to executed (behead) an Indian/ British subject. He failed to complete the job leaving someone else to do it. He then used the case in his favour attempting to incite the British to arrest him in the hope of provoking a riot.

Her only claim to fame (apart from winning an election that anyone could have) is having a complete charmer of a Father...

[Cardiff1963]

So what if she was a communist then. She backed the Japanese as a lot of Burmese did, because Britian was occupying her countrry. To them the Japs were the lesser of the 2 evils.

[bristolgeoff]

good for you about time you had your freedom

[atyclb]

ASSK is the Gold Standard for "Image and SUBSTANCE"

God Bless and a Big big hug.

Edited May 29, 2012 by atyclb

[JohanV]

Yes. I'm not convinced that this isn't a big PR push on the part of the Burmese that the West is willingly entertaining so they have a premise for abandoning the embargo.

A few rich Bamar are about to get richer.

Well, isn't that just the beauty of it.

She has - even though she only has a minority representation in the parliament -

gripped the junta by the balls. She is the key to investments, international contracts and new business.

If she's not in, there will be no new international contracts and no investments.

Thus she is actually in charge of the country's future development, in a very pragmatic sense.

She is - I would say - by far the most powerful person in Myanmar right now.

And, that is a result of years of patient strategic propaganda work behind the scenes.

To me, it makes her a genius in the ranks of Gandhi and Mandela.

I wish her all the best. This is becoming really interesting.

[btunes]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

Yes and let us not forget behind the global appearance now that the world is really flat and non white people do not belong in the USA, etc.,etc.

Cripes!

CripesX2! and the US co-operated with the Japs in WW2 and let Pearl Harbor happen.The US was warned 3X.Go figure.Every one is not a chip off the ol' block. She is a hero and a liberator.

[Felt 35]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

Why not take with rest of the story when sitting in a country which in the Second World War was swinging between the Japanese and the Allies as faithful and trustworthy as only a bargirl can be.

“In 1943 Aung San became skeptical of Japanese promises of true independence and of Japan's ability to win the war. He made plans to organize an uprising in Burma and made contact with the British authorities in India in cooperation with Communist leaders! On 27 March 1945, he led the BNA in a revolt against the Japanese occupiers and helped the Allies defeat the Japanese”

[StefanBBK]

I certainly do respect her for her long lasting efforts.

At the same time, I have spoken to many workers from Myanmar, mostly Karen, and they appear to be not the least bit interested in politics / democracy etc.. Their concerns are all about the daily life, such as the cost of rice, schools for the kids, consitent supply of electricity.

I still feel it was wrong for many Nations to boykot Burma/Myanmar. In the end such boykots only make life for the poor more miserable, whilst the rich still get anything they want, one way or another.

Still congratulation to free-er elections and to having the country changing course, hopefully to the better.

Sent from my GT-P7500 using Thaivisa Connect App

[khaowong1]

So what if she was a communist then. She backed the Japanese as a lot of Burmese did, because Britian was occupying her countrry. To them the Japs were the lesser of the 2 evils.

If that's true, boy was they wrong. The Brits were never like the Japs.. And I really don't think anyone wants Burma to become a communist state, I don't think.. Maybe China does..

[MILT]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

Let's not forget that "She is not her father" The political landscape was completely different than the one his daughter is dealing with.

Yes Burma has a wealth of resources and Aung San Suu kyi's will most likely voice some sort support for nationalization of resources so that the people will benefit. She is no Yingluck. I like that maybe she will have talks with Mark. God speed Aung San Suu Kyi!

She is no Yingluck!

[JoshuaCaleb]

Hello, can you provide the links from which the articles reprinted in this thread and the thread here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/558685-suu-kyi-to-be-focus-of-interest-at-wef-thailand/ are located at? I saw links to the AFP and "The Nation" website, but not to the articles.

[RogueLeader]

new business.

'New business' is not an unalloyed good thing. Ask anyone who's seen oil discovered under their land. This marks a new era of ordinary Burmese (and Shan, Mon, Chin, Kachin, Kayan, Kayah and Rakhine) getting shafted in new ways under new bosses.

[TPI]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

And the problem is? Her father tried to get the British to release Burma, above all else he, like Ho Chi Minh, was a nationalist first.

So you would be happy if everyone was kissing her bum for no reason? Very strange!

[h90]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war

He also summary tried & attempted to executed (behead) an Indian/ British subject. He failed to complete the job leaving someone else to do it. He then used the case in his favour attempting to incite the British to arrest him in the hope of provoking a riot.

Her only claim to fame (apart from winning an election that anyone could have) is having a complete charmer of a Father...

No more fame: She lobbied stronger and stronger sanctions for Myanmar. Of course that never hit the ruling junta, but the poor people, specially the shortage on medical supplies.

But as the guidebook tells, for a regime change the people must suffer........

[ryladie99]

She is one of the most generous, gracious and greatest of person that has ever walked this earth !!!

O.M.G....thank you so much for posting about her. Secretary of Sate Hillary Rodham Clinton met Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar not too long ago. It is a good sign and the World loves it.

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

Yes and let us not forget behind the global appearance now that the world is really flat and non white people do not belong in the USA, etc.,etc.

Cripes!

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

I really think your name suits you well...Just can't give credit where credit is due can you...! That was rhetorical...

[JohanV]

new business.

'New business' is not an unalloyed good thing. Ask anyone who's seen oil discovered under their land. This marks a new era of ordinary Burmese (and Shan, Mon, Chin, Kachin, Kayan, Kayah and Rakhine) getting shafted in new ways under new bosses.

Of course it is not an 'unalloyed good thing'. I certainly agree on that.

My point was that she might actually be able to steer the events in a direction more helpful to the ordinary Burmese people than the junta. I think that is highly probable.

And, it is hard to see Myanmar's natural resources NOT being commercialised within the next decade, regardless of her doings. It will inevitably happen. The question is who will control it and that it is done in such a way that the damages are minimised and the gain is as fairly distributed as possible.

I believe she is exacty the right person to step in and steer that up.

Or do you have any better suggestions ?

perhaps ?

Edited May 29, 2012 by JohanV

[RogueLeader]

Whoah. I'm sure I saw her down the Arndale last Saturday wearing nylon Adidas tracky bottoms.

Edited May 29, 2012 by RogueLeader

[JohanV]

lets not forget that her father Aung San was a communist,an insurgent and collaborated with the Japanese during world war 2

the reason the west and everybody else is kissing her behind is that Burma is stuffed full of natural resources to exploit including : natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, limestone, precious stones, hydropower, marine products, and petroleum.

Totally agree on the cripes!

Hmmm...

Let's not forget that Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Rajiv Gandhi was a corrupt crook, or that Goering's daughter sterilised herself to make sure she cut the family bloodline...

And what does that imply ? Nothing, my dear Watson. Absolutely nothing.

If you have to judge people by their parent's doings you either know too little about them to be able to judge them at all, or you are stuck in medeival ideas about blood revenge and such <deleted>.

I reckon you are wasting valuable internet bandwidth with your posts. Probably those bits could be better used watching porn or something..

Edited May 29, 2012 by JohanV