The freed Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, says she plans to listen to what the people of Burma want before taking her next steps.
Ms Suu Kyi says she also wants to talk to leaders in other countries about what they think they can do to help bring democracy to Burma.
"There's so much that I want to learn about now," she said after tyhe ruling junta freed her from house arrest in Rangoon.
"I want to listen to people. which is one of the first things I have to to do.
"I really want to listen to what the people have to say."
Open to talks
Ms Suu Kyi urged her supporters not to give up hope, saying she was prepared to pursue reconciliation.She has already said she was open to talks with other countries about easing sanctions on Burma, which she says hurt the Burmese people more than the junta.
World leaders have hailed the release of Burma's democracy icon from years of house arrest, warninh the country's junta not to restrict her.
A senior Burmese official says no conditions were tied to Ms Suu Kyi's release.
The secretary-general of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, Surin Pitsuwan, said he was "very, very relieved" at the news.
Dr Surin Pitsuwan said he hoped Ms Suu Kyi would be able to play a role in bringing national reconciliation, while the Japanese government urged Burma to take "further positive measures."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Ms Suu Kyi "an inspiration" to the world.
Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd welcomed her release.
Their joint statement called on Burmese authorities to immediately release more than 2000 political prisoners still held in Burma.
President Obama said that while the Burmese regime has gone to extraordinary lengths to isolate and silence Aung San Suu Kyi, she has continued her brave fight for democracy, peace, and change in Burma.
In Oslo, the Norwegian Nobel Committee invited Ms Suu Kyi to make the traditional acceptance speech the Nobel Peace laureate was prevented from giving in 1991.
China, one of Burma's closest allies and a mainstay for the junta through trade ties, arms sales, and using its veto on the UN Security Council against sanctions, had no immediate reaction.
But the official Xinhua news agency, reporting her release, describedMs Suu Kyi as "a noted political figure".
From - http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201011/3065974.htm?desktop
0 comments:
Post a Comment