CORAZON AQUINO READS STATEMENT FM A

[BRETHAUERT@xxxxxxx]

Subject:  CORAZON AQUINO READS STATEMENT FM AUNG SAN SUU KYI 

Source: Voice of America
DATE=11/21/94
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-169637
TITLE=BURMA / DEMOCRACY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=MARIE ORARA
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  BURMESE OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS
ISSUED A STATEMENT, READ BY FORMER PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT
CORAZON AQUINO ATTAINED LEADER URGED THE UNITED NATIONS
TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENTS IN POOR COUNTRIES AND
ENCOURAGE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

TEXT:  IN HER STATEMENT READ TO DELEGATES AT A
U-N-SPONSORED ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON CULTURE
AND DEVELOPMENT, AUNG SAN SUU KYI CRITICIZES AUTHORITARTIAN
GOVERNMENTS, WHICH SHE SAYS  SERVE ONLY A SMALL ELITE.

IN HER WRITTEN STATEMENT, SHE ALSO SAYS THAT TO ACHIEVE
PROGRESS,GOVERNMENTS SHOULD EMPOWER PEOPLE AT ALL
LEVELS OF SOCIETY.  SHE ALSO DISMISSES ARGUMENTS THAT
GOVERNMENTS NEED TO BE AUTHORITARIAN TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND MODERNIZE THEIR COUNTRIES, AND THAT CERTAIN
CULTURES ARE ILL-SUITED OR NOT YET READY FOR DEMOCRACY --
WHICH SHE SAYS COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS BEEN UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN RANGOON
FOR FIVE YEARS AS A MILITARY JUNTA CONTINUES TO RULE BURMA. 
SHE WAS A POPULAR LEADER OF A 1988 DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT
THAT WAS EVENTUALLY CRUSHED IN A BLOODY CRACKDOWN BY
BURMESE TROOPS.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI STRESSES THAT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN MERE ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND THAT
PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL EMPOWERED AS WELL

SHE ALSO SAYS POVERTY THREATENS SOCIAL STABILITY IN MANY
COUNTRIES TODAY, AND THAT ETHNIC CONFLICT AND MINORITY
DISCONTENT ARE TWO OF THE GREATEST THREATS TO INTERNAL
AND REGIONAL PEACE. IN HER STATEMENT, AUNG SAN SUU KYI ALSO
STRESSES THAT NONVIOLENT CHANGE IS A HALLMARK OF
DEMOCRACY.  IN 1991, SHE WON A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR
PROMOTING THAT IDEAL.

MS. AQUINO, WHO DELIVERED AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S SPEECH, IS A
CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY HERSELF.  IN 1986, SHE WAS A LEADING
FIGURE IN THE POPULAR REVOLT THAT OUSTED PHILIPPINES DICTATOR
FERDINAND MARCOS AFTER 20 YEARS IN POWER.  (SIGNED)

NEB/MO/GPT
21-Nov-94 9:03 AM EST (1403 UTC)
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