[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

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.