UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has praised Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for supporting democratisation by making a political compromise.
Ms Suu Kyi agreed yesterday to end her party's boycott of parliament, setting aside her first major dispute with the government since winning byelections and clearing the way for what could be an acceleration of reforms.
Ms Suu Kyi and her party will make their historic debut in the assembly tomorrow after backing down over the wording of an oath.
She agreed to swear to protect a constitution drafted under military control that she says is undemocratic."In politics it is essential to give and take," the Nobel Peace Prize laureate told reporters after a party meeting.
"As a gesture of respect to the desires of the people and in consideration of the requests made by lawmakers from democratic parties and independent lawmakers, we have decided to attend the parliament. . . . We will go there as soon as possible and take the oath."
Ms Suu Kyi's change of heart came as UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon was addressing parliament in the capital, Naypyitaw. She met Mr Ban in Rangoon today before travelling to Naypyitaw for tomorrow's parliamentary session.
Mr Ban said after meeting Ms Suu Kyi that he admired her for agreeing to drop a demand that the wording of the oath of office be changed before her party members take their seats in parliament, which is expected tomorrow.
Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy had sought to have the wording changed to “respect” the constitution from “safeguard” the constitution but agreed yesterday it could work on the issue after being sworn in. The party wants to amend elements of the 2008 charter it considers undemocratic.
“Politicians sometimes will continue to have differences of opinion, but real leaders demonstrate flexibility for the greater cause of people and for the country,” said Mr Ban. “I’m sure she’ll play a very constructive and active role as a parliamentarian.”
President Thein Sein, prime minister in the former military government, came to power a year ago after a general election that left the military in firm control but signalled a desire for political reconciliation.
His government is keen to have Western nations drop the sanctions they imposed against the junta for its repressive policies. His programme gained steam after winning he endorsement of Ms Suu Kyi’s democracy movement, which then nearly swept April 1st byelections to make it the spearhead of a small opposition bloc in parliament.
Mr Ban, in a speech to parliament yesterday, urged Western nations to ease sanctions, saying such action would encourage further reform. He also called for a significant increase in development aid.
In that speech, believed to have been the first ever by a foreigner before Burma’s parliament, he hailed the president and Ms Suu Kyi, saying they had “demonstrated the confidence and statesmanship needed to look beyond politics to the longer and larger interests of the nation”.
He said that in meetings with the two, he encouraged flexibility, wisdom and compromise for tackling issues on which they disagreed.
Ms Suu Kyi had been criticised by some sympathisers over her party’s earlier decision to boycott parliament, and on Monday she said she took responsibility for failing to be aware of the wording problem earlier.
She said today her party has always worked flexibly, even as an extra-parliamentary opposition.
“We have always believed in flexibility throughout the years of our struggle,” the Nobel peace laureate said after meeting Mr Ban. “That is the only way in which we can achieve our goal without violence.”
Her National League for Democracy (NLD) boycotted general elections in November 2010, when Ms Suu Kyi was under house arrest, saying the poll was rigged in favour of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
The USDP won an overwhelming victory, but a new government under President Thein Sein embarked on political and economic reforms after 50 years of military rule and persuaded Ms Suu Kyi to enter the political process.
The NLD won all but one of the 44 seats it contested in April 1st by-elections after a campaign in which Ms Suu Kyi, who won one of the seats, made the amendment of the 2008 constitution drawn up under military supervision a central theme.
The charter gives the military wide powers, including the ability to appoint cabinet members, take control in a state of emergency and occupy a quarter of seats in parliament.
Agencies