YANGON: Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday called for her once-banned party to unify amid concerns that internal squabbles could undermine its push for power at historic polls in 2015.
Speaking at the first ever congress of her popular but politically callow National League for Democracy (NLD) party, Suu Kyi urged a revival of the “spirit of fraternity” which saw it build a huge base during iron-fisted junta rule.
But she acknowledged “there was some fighting” within the party, something analysts attribute to the reluctance of an elderly cabal of senior advisors — veterans of the democracy struggle — to give way to an eager younger generation.
“We have to act with restraint” the Nobel laureate, who is expected to be re-elected as party chair, said, urging delegates not to fight over positions.
“The spirit of fraternity is very important. We have been strong in the past because of this spirit.”
Although hugely popular in Myanmar, some experts question whether the NLD is ready to run an impoverished nation whose economy, education and health systems were left in tatters by the corrupt former junta.
The party is expected to win national elections in 2015, if they are free and fair.
But experts say it must first resolve internal divisions which again flared ahead of the conference as four members were banned from attending, accused of trying to influence the voting.
Hundreds of delegates listened as Suu Kyi urged them to elect a “leader who is in accord with this era, in accord with this country and the party”.
AFP
