United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered an address to the parliament
of Burma today, urging president Thein Sein and Burmese opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi to work together for the good of the country. Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi and
her party, the National League for Democracy, agreed on Monday to end a boycott of
parliament and swear an oath to protect the constitution. The party had wanted
to merely swear to “respect” a document they have vowed to try and change because
it was drafted under military rule and ensures the army has the final say on all decisions. “The
reason we accept it, firstly, is the desire of the people,” said Suu Kyi. “Our voters
voted for us because they want to see us in parliament." In his address, the UN
Secretary-General urged the world community to lift more sanctions on Burma and increase
international aid. "The path to change is fragile and uncertain but it is too narrow
to turn back," Ban Ki-moon said. Listen: