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Suu Kyi video interview



For Immediate Release: September 9, 1997

MEDIA RELEASE
SUU KYI: NO ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT WITHOUT POLITICAL CHANGE

Bangkok, Tuesday: - In her first interview since June, Burmese democracy
leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that Asean's help was needed to improve
the political situation in her country in order to allow an economic
take off.

"I do not think that there can be real economic progress without
democracy. The economy is going downhill. There isn't the kind of
accountable transparent government that is necessary to make an economic
success out of an open market system.

"I think the Asean countries have now realised they are not going to get
the economic benefit that they'd hope to get out of Burma ? if they want
economic improvement in Burma, they've got to help the political
situation to improve. I think they should let Burma know what they think
is necessary for the economy to take off," said Ms Suu Kyi who is
Secretary General of the National League for Democracy (NLD) which won
82% of the seats in Burma's last elections.

Ms Suu Kyi also clarified that the July meeting between NLD Chairman U
Aung Shwe and General Khin Nyunt, Burma's military intelligence chief,
was not a dialogue.  Ms Suu Kyi said that the meeting, held days before
the Asean Ministerial Meeting, was held to allow Burma's military
regime, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), to repeat
accusations against Ms Suu Kyi and the party.

In the recent interview contained in a 17-minute video "Asean, NLD and
political dialogue in Burma - an interview with Aung San Suu Kyi", the
democracy leader also spoke animatedly and with humour, about her recent
illness, the party's desire for political dialogue, the Slorc's
harassment of the NLD, a Slorc general's "green card" speculation and
her commitment to the people of Burma.

The video "Asean, NLD and political dialogue in Burma - an interview
with Aung San Suu Kyi", is available in VHS PAL format for US$10 from
ALTSEAN-BURMA (Alternative Asean Network on Burma).

ENDS

For more information, please contact ALTSEAN-BURMA at tel: ++ 66 2 275
1811, fax: ++ 66 2 693 4515 or email <altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>.

A L T S E A N - B U R M A
ALTERNATIVE ASEAN NETWORK ON BURMA
*tel: [662] 275 1811/693 4515 *fax: [662] 693 4515 *e-mail: altsean@xxxxxxxxxx
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