"My birthdays get entwined with politics"

 

She did not show up at the birthday ceremony held at the National League for Democracy (NLD) head office in Yangon but sent a message to her supporters.

“Usually, I don’t have the habit of making birthday promises or resolutions. I accept that each day of the year is the same for the duty I have to complete,” said the Nobel laureate. 

She went on to say that birthdays should be an opportunity to look back at what we have achieved over the previous year. 

“There’s a saying that a merit or fortune must be looked for each day. For a politician like me, instead of what profit we gained for ourselves I prefer to look back at what we did best for the country. Those who send good wishes to me, my colleagues, members of NLD, and those who love me, I also wish them the same and invite them to walk my future political road with me,” continued the message. 

Some political organisations and officials from political parties attended the ceremony. Veteran politician Thakhin Thein Maung was also present and signed the petition to amending the 2008 Constitution, pledging his support for Suu Kyi’s candidacy in next year’s election. 

“I want her to live long because there are many things to do in this country. I want her to become the president in 2015,” he said. 

Former Three Colour party members held pre-birthday celebrations for Aung San Suu Kyi at the Dolphin Restaurant in Yangon on June 19 where she attended the ceremony.

The fight she mentioned could be nothing but the one towards true democracy. Earlier this week, while visiting Mother’s House Free Education Service, she spoke her mind.

Asked what they want to be, many of the students said they would join the military or police to protect the country. 

“There’re several ways to protect our country,” she replied. “First, we need to guard the truth and stand by it. This is the best form of defence. I appreciate your aspiration to be a soldier. But you have to be a good one. You must have a good will, intelligence and affection towards citizens as well. You must not be bloodthirsty. The point is not to capture and punish the bad people but to think how to inspire them to become good,” said Suu Kyi.

The chairperson of the National League for Democracy further emphasised that holding weapons was not the only way to protect the state, adding that teachers and doctors are just as important.