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Asiaweek: The powerful men and wome



Subject: Asiaweek: The powerful men and women in Asean countires 

Subject: Asiaweek: The powerful men and women in Asean countires by ranking
<A HREF="http://cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/power50/1999/45_50.html";>http://cnn.c
om/ASIANOW/asiaweek/power50/1999/45_50.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.student.ipfw.edu/~soem01";>http://www.student.ipfw.edu/~soe
m01</A>
Khin Nyunt 45

SECRETARY-1, STATE PEACE & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, MYANMAR
BORN Oct. 11, 1939, in Kyauktan, Myanmar
EDUCATION Officer training course, Yangon. Speaks adequate English
FAMILY Married; two sons, one daughter
QUOTE "Some Western powers, using the cause of human rights as an excuse, 
have
recruited a group of flunkies to meddle in, and disrupt, the internal
situation
in the country."
POWER POINTS Keeps the junta afloat. Loyal to the military cause, but is a
pragmatic workaholic who balances the views of isolationist colleagues with
those of young reformist officers.

Le Kha Phieu 46


GENERAL SECRETARY, COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM
BORN Dec. 27, 1931, in Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam
EDUCATION Military University, Vietnam. Speaks Russian
FAMILY Married; two sons, one daughter
QUOTE "Along with bureaucracy and red tape comes lack of democracy."
POWER POINTS Has maintained stability, but the creaking economy remains his
greatest challenge.

Aung San Suu Kyi 47


SECRETARY-GENERAL, NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, MYANMAR
BORN June 19, 1945, in Yangon, Myanmar
EDUCATION Oxford University, England
RELIGION Buddhist
FAMILY Widowed; two sons
QUOTE "I think sanctions are good."
POWER POINTS Has managed to maintain a high profile in the world's media and
thus keep the cause of democracy in Myanmar alive - no mean feat, given the
relatively low priority the country normally gets. Her several attempted 
trips
outside Yangon received worldwide coverage last year. But her inflexibility
regarding terms for a dialogue with the military junta threatens to leach 
away
her support base.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi 48


DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER & HOME MINISTER, MALAYSIA
BORN Nov. 26, 1939, in Penang state, Malaya
EDUCATION University of Malaya
HOBBIES Reading, playing golf
FAMILY Married; one son, one daughter
POWER POINTS "Mr. Clean" of Malaysian politics. Appointed deputy PM a few
months after Anwar Ibrahim's sacking and remains a strong candidate to 
succeed
PM Mahathir Mohamad. Lacks the charisma and presence of his boss, but is
dedicated and hard-working. Showed his abilities when he won Sabah state for
UMNO and ran the country while Mahathir was ill.

Li Hongzhi 49

LEADER, FALUNGONG
BORN 1951, in Changchun, Jilin province, China
RELIGION Falungong
QUOTE "Everyone thinks scientists invent on their own, when in fact their
inspiration is manipulated by aliens. The aliens intend to replace all
humans
with clones."
POWER POINTS Self-proclaimed "oldest original spirit" on earth and 
charismatic
leader of Falungong, a quasi-religious movement based on qigong (type of
Chinese yoga). Falungong claims a worldwide membership of 100 million. In
April, Li's followers unnerved China's leaders when they staged the largest
demonstration in the country since the 1989 democracy movement.


Wan Azizah Wan Ismail 50


PRESIDENT, NATIONAL JUSTICE PARTY, MALAYSIA
BORN Dec. 3, 1952, in Kedah state, Malaya
EDUCATION Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland
HOBBIES Baking cakes, fishing
FAMILY Married to Anwar Ibrahim; five daughters, one son
QUOTE "I am not a politician; Anwar is the politician in the family."
POWER POINTS Key opposition leader. Emerged as the rallying point for
Anwar's
supporters following his incarceration. Has won many admirers for her
staunch
support for her husband. Despite her political inexperience, she has been 
able
to attract huge crowds at her rallies, though it is less clear how well she
will fare in the elections.