BURMA: Suu Kyi Speaks At World Economic Forum

Date: 
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Source: 
NTD Television
Countries: 
Asia
South Eastern Asia
Myanmar
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Human Rights
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding

New parliamentarian Aung Sang Suu Kyi spoke of development, gender equality and the future of Myanmar's constitution during her historic visit to the World Economic Forum in Thailand.

On Friday, Myanmar's opposition leader said one of her main goals is to attract investment that would boost job creation in her impoverished nation.

"We do not want more investment to mean more, more possibilities for corruption. We do not want investment to mean greater inequality. We do not want investment to mean greater privileges for the already privileged. We want investment to mean, quite simply, jobs."

But that is not the only issue facing the country still plagued by international sanctions and the remnants of a military junta.

Suu Kyi says Myanmar needs a strong energy policy to stem chronic blackouts across the nation.

She also called for improved education of girls and women, many of whom are the breadwinners for Burmese families.

During the conference, Suu Kyi admitted that her pro-democracy party faced an uphill battle to institute these changes as well as reform the country's constitution, which requires more than 75% support in parliament.