History will repeat itself if Suu Kyi is treated as enemy

History will repeat itself if Suu Kyi is treated as enemy - House Speaker

Published on Friday, 19 July 2013 17:16

Aung San Suu Kyi and Thura Shwe Mann seen in Parliament Building on July 18 (Photo:EMG/Thet Myo Min)

Myanmar's Lower House speaker said that he had no quarrel with Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), and that treating her as an enemy would only cause history to repeat itself. 

"National unity broke up at that time because of disunity between parties. We should take lesson from that. Aung San Suu Kyi is leader of the opposition as well as leader of the public in part. If we treat her as an enemy, our country's history will repeat itself," said the speaker.

Speaker Thura Shwe Mann made the comment on Thursday during a meeting with reporters and editors from the Myanmar Journalists Network in Nay Pyi Taw. He added that cooperation between parties was necessary in order to forge national unity.

MP's Aung San Suu Kyi and Thein Swe were also present at the meeting. 

"You (reporters) ask simply. Don't do anything that can lead to quarrel and argument between us. We will never quarrel each other," Shwe Mann said.

Shwe Mann also said cooperation must be forged with Suu Kyi as she is the daughter of late national leader (General Aung San) and has a kind heart and good qualifications. Unity between high-profile party members could generate unity and cooperation between lower level party members, he added.

Speaker Thura Shwe Mann and MP's Aung San Suu Kyi and Thein Swe meeting with media (Photo:EMG/Zin Bo Lwin)

Aung San Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest after the NLD won a landslide victory in the 1990 general election, becoming an icon for the pro-democracy movement. She has widely claimed she intends to run for president in the next elections in 2015.

Myanmar has been under 50 years of military rule since 1962 and initiated democratic reform just two years ago.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/07/19/history-will-repeat-itself-if-suu-kyi-is-treated-as-enemy/