In Myanmar, also known as Burma, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's first-ever campaign
speech for state television was scheduled to air on Wednesday, and again on March
22. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party is contesting 47 of the 48 parliamentary
seats at stake.
In her speech, which was leaked on the internet ahead of its
broadcast, Suu Kyi repeated her campaign theme of undoing the repressive measures
of past military regimes to make the country more democratic. The broadcast marks
the first time the Nobel Peace laureate has been given the opportunity to use state
media to promote her party's platform.
“Obviously what we’re seeing in Burma
at the moment are some quite dramatic changes,” said Burma Campaign UK’s Anna Roberts.
“We’re seeing more opening of political space so that Aung San Suu Kyi and her party,
the National League for Democracy, are able to do some campaigning… And these are
welcome steps and signs for hope that there is change coming to Burma.”
“But,”
she said, “I think also we need a note of caution about what has actually happened
so far and about what is being promised as change.”
Ms. Roberts said, “I think
the international community absolutely has to encourage these reforms, but part of
that encouragement is also maintaining the pressure and sanctions that are acting
as a lever for reforms in the country at the moment.”
Listen to the
complete interview of Anna Roberts, Executive Director at Burma Campaign UK, with
Christopher Wells: