Daw Suu's 8 Jun Public Address

[maung@xxxxxxxxxxx]

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We have received the following "rough translation" of Daw 
Aung San Suu Kyi's public address in front of her residence 
on June 8, 1996.  The address was the first since SLORC had 
asked that public gatherings at her home be banned.
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Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Public Address
(rough translation)
June 8, 1996

(In the period before the speech began, someone repeatedly 
came on the public address system asking the crowd to follow 
traffic regulations, cross at the zebra stripes, etc.  He 
said, As on every weekend, let's be disciplined; we expect 
you to help us by being disciplined. The crowd responded with 
applause.)

The first thing I must talk about is last night's 
announcement, published in today's newspaper.  We will let 
you know about the NLD's position regarding the announcement 
once we have made a decision.  We haven't come to a 
conclusion as yet.  As you know, the National league for 
Democracy is a democratic organization.  we first hold 
discussions, so I'm not in a position to say what our stance 
will be.

But there are some things we have to mention.  For example, 
the law says they will not accept any criticism that might 
affect the peace and stability of the nation.  As for us, we 
have never spoken against the (four points mentioned in the 
decree).  Everyone knows this.	We have never spoken against 
those four points and never will.  We always talk about the 
rule of law and try to persuade the authorities to do what is 
necessary to bring about the rule of law.   We have never 
said anything that would have a negative effect on the rule 
of law.  We always speak about how important the law is in a 
country and in society.  We repeatedly say that the law must 
be equal for all.  That comment addresses the rule of law.  
If we talk about the rule of law, we are also promoting peace 
and stability in a community because, without the rule of 
law, there can be neither.  That's why we consider whatever 
we say regarding the rule of law as also touching on the 
peace and stability of the community.  Only when there are 
the rule of law and peace and stability in the community will 
there be a stable nation.  All of these are interrelated.  We 
are holding these people's fora for the sake of these things 
(applause).

Our conscience is clear.  We always tell our audience to be 
disciplined, to maintain order.  Why do we do that?  Because 
we want peace in the nation, and only if each and every 
individual is disciplined will there be peace and stability 
in the nation.  Only when there is true rule of law will 
there be a peaceful nation (applause).  If they really desire 
the nation's stability then we consider them our friends, for 
we don't consider anyone our enemy.  I can assure you that 
slogans directed against community peace will never emanate 
from this audience (applause)

We gather here because we all want democracy.  When we say we 
want democracy, we are not referring simply to a goal we want 
to reach.  It  is in fact a means through which we can bring 
about prosperity for our country.  That's why we want 
democracy for our country. That's why we long for it and 
appeal for it.  To further the peace and prosperity of the 
country is the responsibility of the people in this country 
(applause).   May I state this clearly: I want  be the kind 
of citizens who know their responsibilities.  The citizens of 
this country must first of all know their responsibilities 
and then carry them out dutifully.  Only such citizens can 
build a democratic country.  I truly believe this. 
 
But there are some who don't believe in their countrymen and 
women (applause) and doubt whether the people can carry out 
their responsibilities.   There are people both in Burma and 
abroad who doubt whether the Burmese are fit for democracy.  
Both domestically and abroad.  But we believe the people have 
the ability.  If people work in the proper way, they will 
reach their goal (applause).  I have been working with this 
conviction in mind.  We had to travel a long path in our 
independence struggle too.  For everyone who participated in 
the independence movement, they know what it is to travel the 
long and rough road.  I have repeatedly said, you cannot 
obtain something previous easily.  That is why we are 
prepared to struggle for something previous.  This is not 
something we can say once for all time, because we have to 
try over and over again. 
 
That's why courage and perseverance go hand in hand.  There 
are times when you have to be brave only once and other times 
when you have to be brave over and over again.  To be brave 
repeatedly means perseverance.  I spoke in the past about 
courage, courage to begin something, courage to build up 
one's abilities, the courage, when you encounter obstacles  
to overcome those obstacles, and finally the courage to 
continue on until you reach your goal (applause). 
 
When the people gather here on account of some particular 
development, I believe they want to hear about whatever 
special factor draws them here.  That is only natural.  That 
is why I am talking about our program for democracy.  But 
some people misinterpret us.  Our democratic cause is not 
designed to attack anybody.  But no matter how much we say 
this, they don't believe us.  But we have to repeat this, so 
that the people and the international community will come to 
understand our goal and methods.  For example  if foreign 
journalists come here four or five times a day and keep 
asking the same questions, and the same person is answering 
it becomes a bit monotonous.   But it still has to be done 
because this is our responsibility.  People need to explain 
their actions.  This is democracy.  Any democratic 
organization cannot just do things arbitrarily.  They have to 
explain their actions (applause).  That is also why we so 
frequently explain things to the people. For the regulars 
here this may also be a bit monotonous, but we have to do 
this for the sake of the non-regulars.  It is analogous to my 
answering the journalists. 
 
The other reason for repeating our message is that we must 
not lose sight of our goals.  It is necessary that we repeat 
over and over our goals and our intentions.  For people 
hearing this repeatedly, I believe they will be patient, for 
I believe in the political maturity and open-mindedness of 
the people.  Last week I also said that, if some of our 
actions are not altogether clear, people will be 
understanding about what we are having to go through, the 
struggles we have to face.  It is because we believe in the 
people that we are working toward a system that respects the 
will of the  people.  If we did not have faith in the people 
we wouldn't be working toward a system that respects the will 
of the people (applause). 
 
When I say that to believe in the people I mean that they 
have the ability to decide what is best for the country and 
that they have the ability to work toward what is best for 
the country (applause). I want you to understand how heavy 
the people's responsibility is. Don't be discouraged by this 
responsibility.  Don't be discouraged that some people who 
want to take up that responsibility don't get the chance.  
Whenever you get the chance, take it up as a privilege 
(applause).  I want people to understand that, the greater 
the people" responsibility, the greater it is a test of the 
people's ability (applause)   That is why it is incumbent on 
me repeatedly to urge you to work toward a system that 
reflects the will of the people (applause). 
 
As for the NLD, also we have to repeatedly examine ourselves 
to make sure we are an organization that can carry out the 
will of the people.  We cannot think that whatever we do will 
succeed just through a one-shot meeting.  We have to gauge 
the situation every day and consider what is the best thing 
to do and decide as a group what we will do.  We work on the 
basis of consensus in making our decision.  That has been our 
practice since the founding of the NLD and it will continue 
to be so (applause).  In the NLD there is no single person 
wielding the authority.  Some people approach me using me to 
do things, but I have to tell them that what they ask has to 
be to be put up to the executive committee, that I can't 
decide thing. alone.  If they are making a worthwhile 
proposal I put it up to the executive committee, and if it is 
accepted by the majority, it can be implemented.  If it is 
not a good proposal, I don't present it to the executive at 
is our common practice.  In making our  consensus decisions, 
we have the people first and foremost in mind.    What is 
best for the majority, what is the will of the majority -- 
our decisions must be in line with the will of the people and 
contribute to the welfare of the nation. That is how we make 
our decisions.  I'm saying this because I want people to know 
how the NLD makes its decisions. 
 
In any country, it is not always easy for change to take 
place.  For example, it is fairly easy in stable democratic 
countries because in those countries it is easier to arrive 
at a popular consensus.  In countries where democracy is not 
developed, we need to put in a greater effort.  But having to 
persevere and make that effort, I believe, will be of benefit 
to the country in the long-run (applause).  People who have 
walked the hard, long, rough road -- their feet become 
hardened and strong.  Similarly, I believe our people, who 
have to face yet more struggles, will become people who 
understand their responsibility and are able to carry it out 
more effectively (applause). 
 
Last week  I mentioned that we were criticized for speaking 
ill of the Government, so I invited the audience to write in 
with whatever good points they could think of that the SLORC 
has done.  People were very obliging, as they always are, 
regarding my request.  So this week, someone from Yankin 
wrote in with some positive points. In fact, he's included 
both good and bad points, but for now I'll just read out the 
positive points because that's what I asked for.

That they held the 1990 elections is a good point.  The open-
market economy is also very good.  To build bridges, roads, 
and pagodas is also good (I'll leave it at that for now on 
that point).  To say they will all work together toward 
democracy is also very good. Another person wrote about what 
he considers the best thing the SLORC has done for the 
country: to have released Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Ba Ba U Tin 
Oo, and  Ba Ba U Kyi  Maung and other political prisoners  
(applause).

I don't want to go back on my word, as some other people do. 
That's why I'm reading only the good points, like I promised 
to do last week.  We agree with many of the points given 
here.  One is the 1990 elections, which we support and see as 
a positive act.  Why do we say it's good -- because the 
elections were, first of all, free and fair; and secondly, 
because they gave the people the opportunity to show how much 
they supported democracy and the NLD (applause).

The second point is that the open market system is good.  We 
have no reason to reject the open market system.  The NLD 
came up with a party constitution written in l988, and we 
also announced the NLD's stance in 1990, just before the 
election.  In both instances we mentioned the economic policy 
we had laid out.  We said we wanted an open market economy, 
that we support it and would put it into practice.  We also 
indicated we would encourage tourism in a way that would 
benefit the country and that we would invite foreign 
investment.  So the open market system is in line with NLD 
policy. That's why we agree this is a positive point.

The next point concerns the construction of bridges, roads, 
and pagodas.  We can't deny that building these is good.  We 
never said it wasn't, but we did indicate that the 
authorities should consider how these construction projects 
are carried out (applause).

On the point about them saying they would all work together 
toward establishing a democratic country, of course we 
support that wholeheartedly.  That is what we're doing now; 
those who are gathered here now are those who want to work 
toward democracy (applause).  The NLD was formed with the 
goal of building a democratic country.  I want to ask the 
people whether the NLD has ever done anything that is not in 
line with democracy (audience: "no, no").  We've never done 
anything that does not support progress toward democracy.  We 
may have made mistakes and we may have weaknesses, but we 
have always worked toward democracy.  The NLD was founded for 
that purpose and all our organizing work has been done for 
that purpose.

In 1988 and in 1989 before my house arrest, I went around 
campaigning.	I never urged the people to vote for me and 
the NLD (applause). This was because the NLD's goal was not 
to win an election and gain power (applause).  Our 
fundamental goal was to make headway toward achieving 
democracy.  That is why in our campaigning we worked to 
explain what democracy is.  Within the NLD we also insisted 
that, if we wanted a democratic country, we had to practice 
democracy among ourselves.  We pointed out what democratic 
methods are, and we looked to see to what extent the people 
understood democracy.  For we believed we could only achieve 
democracy to the extent the people understood it.  This would 
also determine whether it would or not be a stable democracy.  
We were aiming at the people's, political maturity because 
the country's progress depended on that (applause).  We 
talked about what we considered was important by way of 
political psychology.  We never asked people to vote for the 
NLD.

But later, in 1990, NLD decided to enter the elections, for 
certain reasons, as I've mentioned many times.  If we were in 
favor of democracy, then at one time or another there would 
have to be elections because in a democracy the government is 
formed through elected representatives.  That's why the NLD 
decided to participate in the elections.  After our decision, 
we campaigned for votes in exercise of our democratic rights.  
We did not resort to underhanded or improper methods 
(applause).  Since we had decided to enter the elections and 
campaign. we had to explain why we wanted the people's votes.  
When we explained this, we never spoke ill of other parties 
in order to entice people to vote for us (applause).  In our 
campaign, we explained our policies and promised that we 
would work in line with those policies.  Because those 
policies were constructive ones for the country, we asked the 
people to vote for us.  We were very clear and forthright.  
The people for their part were also straightforward.  That's 
why they voted for us (applause).

Our work for democracy has not come to an end.  We came to 
believe even toward the end of the election campaign that 
there would be more struggle ahead, and today we're still 
struggling.  This is our responsibility because it is the 
promise we made to the people.  We promised we would struggle 
until we achieved democracy.  And we cannot break our promise 
(applause).  The promise given by the NLD includes everyone 
in the NLD (applause).  That is why I want to urge all NLD 
members not to forget that promise.  I want you to remember 
that all of you who joined the NLD have given your promise to 
struggle until Burma becomes a democratic country.  Even 
though you may have resigned from the NLD, your promise 
remains intact (applause).  A promise given will always 
endure.  Whether you keep it or not is the question, but the 
promise cannot be withdrawn (applause).   That is why we 
won't withdraw our promise and instead renew our pledge to 
keep our word (applause).

Going back to the positive points, someone mentioned the 
release of Ba Ba U Tin Oo, Ba Ba U Kyi Maung, me, and other 
political prisoners as the best thing the SLORC has done 
(applause).  We agree with that because having political 
prisoners is not good for the country. That is why we support 
the release of political prisoners.  I say this not because I 
have been released.   It is neither because Ba Ba U Kyi Maung 
and Ba Ba U Tin Oo have been released either.  It is not 
because we have achieved individual freedom but when a 
country does not have any political prisoners it brings 
dignity to the country.  That's why I support the release of 
political prisoners (applause).  To speak for our individual 
release -- what pleases us most about our release is that we 
can carry on the work that must be done.  It is not because 
we have gained individual freedom but because we can work 
hard for the NLD.  There are many people who want to serve 
their country.  If this   is true we want to give them a 
chance to work for their country.  If they really want to 
work for the country, they should have the right to do So.  
And for those who lack the ability, they should  have a 
chance to learn and gain experience.  That is why we say that 
everyone should have the right to work for their country.  
Yes, they should have the right (applause).

Someone once commented that I was prejudiced because I always 
claimed that I would stand on the side of the people.  So I 
answered, how could I be prejudiced; isn't it true that I 
should be on the side of the people?  Then the question 
raised was, what if  the people are wrong?  Then I thought it 
over and said, If the people are wrong, I will try to correct 
them with love (applause) - There is only the way of love to 
correct the people of our country. Only through love can we 
truly correct the people and will there be any true progress 
in  a country I can say without fear that this is the only 
way (applause).  This is a Buddhist country and Buddhism 
values love and believes in love.  That is why I believe that 
people can be changed through true love (applause).  If we 
cannot change the citizens of this  country it only means 
that we lack sufficient love (applause).

That's why I do not make any claim that the NLD is perfect.  
And I don't attempt to say so either, for the people know the 
real score. The NLD is always trying to improve.  And in the 
attempt, because not all people are monks, we don't expect 
them to succeed 100% when it comes to "love." We have not 
reached that stage and that is why the NLD's work has not 
reached a perfect stage.  But we will continue to work hard,  
However, I can say that we will always try to improve 
ourselves  on the basis of love so that the NLD and the 
people who support us will be able to work harder for the 
country and to work effectively for the country (applause).  
That is why I support the release of political prisoners.  
Any act whatsoever to break the bondage either of an 
individual or of a number of people is an act based on love.  
So the suggestion that releasing political prisoners is the 
best  thing the SLORC has done is correct.  Whether it is the 
best or not, some may differ, depending on their perspective. 
For some, holding the election would be considered the best 
action. What I  have mentioned above are the good works of 
the SLORC.

When we do anything  we need to have a constructive and 
positive attitude. Because we undertake tasks with the aim of 
being constructive, we need  to be more conscientious.  We 
must all understand that it is  much more difficult to build 
than to destroy (applause).  We must understand this.  It 
takes a long time to build a house, but it does not take time 
to bring it down.  A crane can do the job in a short time.  
That is why it is much more difficult to construct than 
destroy.  But constructive work brings much more satisfaction 
compared to any form of destruction.  Your conscience is 
clear, you have deep satisfaction.  This brings you courage 
to face life.  That is why, if we are really engaged in 
constructive work, I can say that our strength for such work 
will increase day after day (applause).   We all know that 
our political path is not a bed of roses.  And since it is 
not a path of flowers, people who pity me keep giving me 
flower as presents.  May I express my thanks at this point 
for the flowers.  I have not mentioned that each week, not 
because I have forgotten, but because I did not want to focus 
on the gifts.  But even though it is not a bed of roses, we 
can be content if it is a path we choose.  But if we have to 
walk the road laid down by others, we often forget to notice 
it even if it is good, simply because it was laid down for us 
 . But if it is the path we choose ourselves, we can remember 
how we worked hard to build the path and appreciate the 
hardships we had to go through.  That is why, please don't be 
discouraged if you have decided to choose your own path - 
because of the hardships you have to race.  I want you to 
remember how highly privileged you are simply to have had the 
chance to choose the path that you prefer (applause).

There are many indications that our country has potential for 
progress.  This country can set forth goals towards progress 
and development.  And the most important element is the 
citizens of this country.  We have the strength, courage and 
hard work of our citizens-  That is why I have said many 
times that the most precious natural resource in our country 
is the people of the country (applause).  We must learn to 
respect every individual.  We must be able to acknowledge and 
respect everyone as important nationals of this country.  For 
some countries, when one of their citizens faces any 
difficulty in another country, they can approach their 
embassy. Sometimes, when their citizens are the cause of the 
problems they do not like it because it blemishes their 
country's dignity.  Even then, they help their citizens to 
the best of their ability, with a sense of responsibility 
towards their own countrymen.  That is why we must always 
keep in mind that every individual in this country is an 
important countryman and woman.  We must not see our people 
as anonymous or as a faceless crowd (clap).

When we gather here, while Ba Ba U Kyi Maung and Ba Ba U Tin 
Oo speak, I try my best to remember the faces in the crowd.  
I don't want to acknowledge you simply as part of a crowd but 
want to recognize and value you as your very individual 
selves.  I want to acknowledge that each and every one of you 
who has gathered here is an individual human being and 
important in your own right.  But I must admit that I can't 
recognize those on the other side of the road.  I am quite 
familiar with the faces close by and sometimes worry if I 
don't see the familiar faces.  Sometimes I ask around to 
learn that someone has been away for their daughter's wedding 
or some other reason.  We do this because the NLD values 
every individual.  Even if we don't get the name I want to 
know the face.  If I don't recognize the face I want to have 
a notion of the person.  I want to see each one of you as our 
co-workers and our supporters.  Never doubt that we realize 
you are supporting our movement.  Even if we don't get to 
know each one of you individually, I want you to know that we 
feel the power of your love every day (applause).

There is but little time to talk about Nelson Mandela but I 
want to give you more on the topic.

Mandela and his colleagues were accused for the second time 
of high treason and more found guilty at the trial.  Once 
they were given life sentences they became known 
internationally.  Before these leaders were sentenced the 
world did not know much about them but there were two reasons 
why they became well known:  the world came to realize that 
there were numerous Black leaders as such who had been 
detained for their political activities; and those who were 
not detained continued to carry out the task of those who 
were in prison  with strength and fervor.  This brought the 
world to have compassion and respect for the struggles of the 
people of South Africa.

The Black leaders of South Africa together were sentenced to 
27 years in prison.  But the aim of those who were detained 
and of those who ware left behind became to grow in strength 
daily.  Those who were left behind practiced through their 
continuing activities and those detained practiced their 
strength while being detained. Now there are many ways to 
exercise one's political strength.

Some believe that engaging in political activities alone is 
to 	practice political strength. But to prepare oneself 
mentally is also a practice, because the mind is the most 
important. That is why I say that we don't believe in violent 
conflict but in a contest of minds (applause).  sometimes we 
have to change the way we think. There are times when there 
can be no success unless one's mentality can be changed.  For 
instance, let us say that the NLD formed a democratic 
government tomorrow.  Unless we have transformed the way we 
think in the necessary way, we will not be able to claim that 
we have had success in anything (applause).  One's attitude 
is what is more important.  Power is not the primary factor, 
but it is one's way of thinking that is important (applause).  
That is why we repeatedly say that we want the support of the 
people that comes out of love rather than authority or power 
(applause).

In South Africa, the struggle took many years.  When one is 
considered less than human because of the color of one's 
skin, to change such prejudice and such thinking could not 
have been an easy task.  How could the revolution have been 
easy when you are taken as sub-human for the color of your 
skin?  How could it have been easy to make them change their 
attitude and see that blacks were just as human and that they 
had abilities and skills that sometimes surpassed those of 
the whites (applause).  Blacks in South Africa showed their 
ability through the strength that enabled them to bear those 
sufferings.  This made the world respect the South Africans. 
The world became concerned about their sufferings, their 
struggles, their pain and courage.  This is how the whole 
world began to become aware of South African's struggles.  
This made the love and compassion of the world increase for 
the Blacks of South Africa. They gained the attention of the 
world not only because of the efforts of the Black leaders 
but also because of the efforts of the ordinary citizens.

Initially the world simply respected and empathized with the 
movement and struggles of the South African people.  But in 
1990 Nelson Mandela was released and, as things progressed, 
the world began to respect the white government which at one 
time had said that Black are not human beings.  The world 
respected the White government for its wisdom and strength in 
working hand in hand with Black South Africans (applause).  
As for the white government, under apartheid, society was 
segregated between black and white.  Schools, buses, 
restaurants and living quarters were all segregated.  But the 
irony is that whites hired Blacks to do their household work 
(applause).  That's why some Black activists commented that 
it was rather surprising that the whites would make the 
Blacks look after their children, cook their food, prepare 
their table, clean their table, wash their clothes, and yet 
keep saying that Blacks were different (applause).  That's 
how they contradicted themselves: their actions and their 
words did not tally.  They kept saying Blacks and whites are 
different and they wanted to keep the segregated and yet they 
accepted all the services of Blacks.  That is why,	when 
they announced that they would give up this shameful system,
a system which lacked credibility, all those who were 
critical of the apartheid system were utterly surprised and 
began to feel respect for the white government (applause).

Actually, Mandela and his colleagues at one time believed 
that the apartheid system could be dismantled only through 
violence.  There were those who agreed and planned to carry 
out an armed revolution. But when the white government began 
to change its attitude, Blacks willingly accepted that armed 
struggle was unnecessary and were open-minded enough to 
accept working together with whites.  They were able to show 
how open-minded they were.  For example, President Mandela 
went out or his way to invite one of the wardens who took 
care of him while in prison to his inauguration.  The warden 
was invited because he treated Mandela humanely while in 
prison and considered him a friend (applause).  This man even 
wrote a book, "My prisoner - My Friend"!

This proves that everyone can become friends when friendship 
is based on truth and the right attitude.  But friendship 
cannot be founded on devious attitudes (applause).  Of course 
there can be false friendships, but true friendship can only 
be built on truth. That's why we want to be true friends of 
the people -- we don't want to be false friends (applause).  
That is why we will relate to the people only with attitudes 
based on truth.  We cannot deceive the people.  If we deceive 
them, they might become our friends but only false ones.  
After all, what can we expect if we ourselves have been 
untrue friends (applause).  That is why we do not and cannot 
organize the people by giving them the false promise that we 
will fulfill all their wishes.  These are acts of false 
friends, and we will not do that (applause).

What we want to say is that we will do our best.  We will do 
our best to make this country into one that reflects the will 
of the people.  We will work hard, we will do our best.  But 
the people must also participate.  I say this over and over 
again (applause). We don't want to hear comments suggesting 
the NLD said it would get democracy for us and yet it has not 
done anything.  Don't say that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said she 
would work for democracy and yet has done nothing for us.  
Because we never say we will work to achieve democracy by 
ourselves.  Neither I nor the NLD promised this.  What we did 
say is that we will try our best and that, with the 
participation of the people, we will surely achieve democracy

Let me state clearly that I cannot suggest we will achieve 
democracy without the participation of the people.   
Sometimes when you come to us, you may not hear what you want 
to hear.  You won't hear us saying that you will get 
democracy easily.  You will not hear from us that it will be 
an easy task.  We will not say it now, nor will we say it 
after democracy is achieved.  We will repeat how difficult 
the struggle will be even once we have democracy.  I don't 
keep repeating this to discourage you, but once we have 
democracy we know how difficult it will be (applause). That 
is why democracy is not a goal in itself -- it is a kind of 
moving target.  Even once	democracy is achieved we will have 
to continue our struggle to preserve it.  But if we all work 
together, the struggle will be worthwhile and we will be able 
to enjoy the outcome.

As I mentioned earlier, if it is the path we choose 
ourselves, our efforts at working together will be valuable.  
There may be some who have to support us from the roadside, 
but this is also a form of participation.  But don't just be 
an onlooker when you can be a participant (applause).  Don't 
pretend that you cannot help build a road by putting on a 
false sling, but know thyself. Even if others don't know, you 
will know in your heart and you will not be happy (applause).  
You know yourself what you are capable of, so don't try to 
deceive yourself.  People who don't practice self-deception 
can mend their ways   As human beings we always have 
weaknesses and mistakes that need to be overcome.  They 
cannot be overcome through self-deception.  That is why I 
want to urge you not to deceive yourselves.  We will all work 
together to achieve democracy.

Let me wish you the best with the pledge that we will never 
break the promises we have given to you.


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