Suu Kyi reaches out to military junta to ease sufferings of Burmese people

LONDON - Burmese pro-democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is in prison for opposing army rule, has urged the ruling military junta to increase cooperation with her pro-democracy opposition in order to find a way to end sanctions on the country.

In a letter addressed to senior general Than Shwe, Suu Kyi has sought permission to meet foreign ambassadors from those countries that have imposed sanctions to better understand their reasons.

She has also requested to meet with her party officials to be updated on the effect of sanctions on the Burmese people, The Independent reports.

“In order to work effectively for having the sanctions on Myanmar lifted, I need to understand the sanctions imposed on Myanmar, how much the country has suffered … and the attitudes of the countries that imposed these sanctions,” wrote the head of the National League for Democracy (NLD), who has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years.

Previously the NLD has said the issue of sanctions was a matter for the countries that have imposed them.

Suu Kyi also suggested several years ago that it was not the time for tourists to visit the country. But earlier this month, the Nobel laureate supported the decision by the Obama Administration to push for closer engagement with the junta, while maintaining sanctions.

NLD spokesman Nyan Win confirmed the offer to the regime represented a change in the leader’s position. “She wants to lift the sanctions but she also wants to know about them.” (ANI)