Suu Kyi in India, nostalgia in the air

[kurup]

New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS) Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi arrived here Tuesday on a six-day visit during which she will meet India’s leaders as well as friends from her school and college days in Delhi.

An icon of the pro-democracy movement in her country, Nobel laureate Suu Kyi flashed a traditional “namaste” after stepping out of the aircraft that brought her from Yangon.

This will be Suu Kyi’s first visit to India in nearly 40 years, according to newsmagazine Irrawaddy.

An aide told IANS that she will mostly rest Tuesday, enjoying the colourful festival of Diwali, before beginning her engagements Wednesday.

Alana Golmei, coordinator of the Burma Centre Delhi, told IANS: “She will mostly rest after her journey. She has a busy day tomorrow.”

She will start Wednesday by visiting Rajghat and Shantivan, paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, and follow it up with a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In an interview published in The Hindu newspaper Tuesday, the 67-year-old said she would like to “see my old friends again, just to talk with them, just to be with them”.

Suu Kyi studied at the Convent of Jesus and Mary School and graduated in political science from Lady Shri Ram College, one of Delhi’s most reputed colleges, when her mother was Burma’s envoy to India.

The mother and daughter — Suu Kyi’s father was a friend of Nehru, India’s first prime minister — lived in the 1960s on 24 Akbar Road, now the headquarters of the Congress party.

“I would like to see the old places, the places where I spent time as a teenager, Lady Shri Ram College, see how it is going — that is on a personal level,” she told The Hindu.

She is expected to meet students and the faculty of LSR, as her college is known.

On the political level, she said she wanted closer relations between the people of the two countries because a gulf had emerged in recent years.

India is also keen for a greater engagement with the multi-party polity in Myanmar, where President Thein Sein has implemented a series of economic and political reforms since 2011.

Also Wednesday, she will deliver the Nehru Memorial Lecture on the occasion of his birth anniversary.

Suu Kyi is also scheduled to meet Vice President Hamid Ansari, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

She will visit The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in Gurgaon, before flying to Bangalore and Andhra Pradesh.

India awarded Suu Kyi the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1992 while she was under house arrest under the military government in Myanmar.

During the Indian prime minister’s visit to Myanmar in May, Suu Kyi had spoken of the need for greater exchanges between the people of the two countries.

The Myanmar community here is all agog about Suu Kyi’s visit, the first by her to India in nearly 40 years.

“Everybody is excited and happy. We only expect that good things come out of the visit and it marks a new beginning for Indo-Burmese relations,” said Golmei.

On Friday, Suu Kyi will meet members of the Myanmar community at west Delhi’s Prospect Burma School, which she helps fund.

Most people from Myanmar in Delhi (15,000) live in Vikaspuri, where the school is located. They are refugees, with the majority belonging to Chin state which borders India.

Golmei said: “This visit would be mostly about renewing old ties and meeting old friends who had supported her in her years of struggle.”

Read more: Suu Kyi in India, nostalgia in the air

 

[Pakistanisage]

Ask the hypocitical BIT** what she thinks of the Burmese murdering Rohynga Muslims.

 

[Green Hornet]

Ask the hypocitical BIT** what she thinks of the Burmese murdering Rohynga Muslims.

Can you tell us which hypothetical muslim bastard$ the world needs to ask about the killings done around the world by them in the name of jihad??

 

[Pakistanisage]

Can you tell us which hypothetical muslim bastard$ the world needs to ask about the killings done around the world by them in the name of jihad??

Just as soon as Hindu B@tards like yourself tell me about the hanging of Narendra Modi for killing of 3000+ innocent Indian citizens.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Just as soon as Hindu B@tards like yourself tell me about the hanging of Narendra Modi for killing of 2000 innocent Indian citizens.

Corrected for you .

Btw, this thread has nothing to do with Rohingyas. Don't divert the topic please.

 

[Jade]

I am a big fan of Aung San Suu Kyi.

 

[ajtr]

Saddened at India moving away in our most difficult days, Suu Kyi says

NEW DELHI: Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday said she was saddened that India was drawn away from her country in its "most difficult days" but had faith in the strong ties between the people of the two nations.

"I was saddened to feel that we were drawn away from India, or rather India was drawn away from us during our most difficult days," Suu Kyi said delivering the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture here.

The National League for Democracy leader, who was under house arrest for over 21 years, was referring to the period when India established diplomatic relations with the military junta in the 1990s. India had initially supported the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar.

Suu Kyi said she always has faith in the lasting friendship of India and Myanmar which was based on love and kinship between the people of the two countries.

"This is what I wish to emphasize again and again. Friendship between countries should be based on friendship between people and not friendship between governments," she said.

"Governments come and go and that is what democracy is all about. But, people remain and as long as our people remain bound in understanding and mutual respect, the friendship between our two countries will last far into the future," she said.

Suu Kyi said Myanmar had not yet achieved the goal of democracy.

"We are trying and we hope that in this last battle, the people of India will stand by us and walk by the path they were able to proceed many years before," said Suu Kyi, who is on a first visit to India in 25 years.


===================================
Aung San Suu Kyi should keep this in mind that india should never be trusted .Iran learnt it hard way.

 

[Hellraiser007]

Aung San Suu Kyi should keep this in mind that india should never be trusted .Iran learnt it hard way.

Are you kidding, India - Iran relations are on the full swing these days India's only mistake is supporting the rebels in Syria against a secular regime of Assad.

But those Now the relations are on the right track.


Have you read Suu Kyi's speech Yesterday. She is clearly Happy with the inspiration provided by Gandhi and Nehru during her difficult times and also She is grateful for the role India played in strengthening Democracy in Myanmar.

 

[INDIC]

Aung San Suu Kyi should keep this in mind that india should never be trusted .Iran learnt it hard way.

But Iran is still collaborating with India and Pakistan can't even shy in open.

 

[Tshering22]

Just as soon as Hindu B@tards like yourself tell me about the hanging of Narendra Modi for killing of 3000+ innocent Indian citizens.

But this ain't about the evil Hindoos... it is about Suu Kyi's visit.

She's a Burmese. Why will she support those who are creating problem in her country?

BTW don't bring Modi in the midst. He's too big for your attempts to drag him down.

 

[ajtr]

Suu Kyi saddened by India’s ties to junta

NEW DELHI: Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi — in a first in recent times from a public forum — expressed disappointment over how India drew close to the military junta after initially supporting the democracy movement there.

Even as she suggested that she was no longer impacted by expectations and disappointment, the Nobel laureate said she had been "saddened'' by the fact that India had drawn away in her country's "most difficult days''.

Suu Kyi made the remark while delivering the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru memorial lecture here on Wednesday. Myanmar's main opposition leader added that she had not lost faith in India because she believed that relations between the two countries were based on friendship between the people. "I was saddened by the fact that India had drawn away in our most difficult days but always had faith in our lasting relationship,'' she said. "Friendship should be based between people and not governments; governments come and go.''

Her remarks came at the end of the lecture during which she recalled her struggle for democracy even while under house arrest for 21 years and her father General Aung San's friendship with Nehru. Suu Kyi reached out to the people of India, saying, "We hope that in the last phase of our struggle, people of India will stand by us and walk by us on the path that they were able to proceed on many years ago.''

Suu Kyi imbibes the best of East and West: Sonia

Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday said she was asked about her expectations from India as well as her disappointments on her visit to the country. "I have thought about it carefully and realized that expectations and disappointment are not something we can indulge in," she said, before adding that she had indeed been saddened by India's conduct.

For almost two decades, India cooperated with the military in Myanmar as it tried to tackle insurgency in the northeast and counter Chinese influence in the resource-rich country.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in fact, was seen carrying out a course correction when he met Suu Kyi during his visit to Myanmar in May and also delivered her the invite from Congress president Sonia Gandhi to visit India. While supporting the ongoing political transformation in the country, India continues to do a balancing act as it looks upon Myanmar under President Thein Sein as its gateway to not just Asean countries but also China.

As she invited her to deliver the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial lecture, Sonia described her as "one of the most remarkable figures of our time" saying she had imbibed the best of the East and the West.

"She exemplifies all qualities he (Nehru) most admired — fearlessness, integrity, moral and intellectual courage, perseverance, freedom from anger and bitterness and unqualified devotion to betterment of the life of her people through the path of dialogue and national reconciliation," Sonia said.

She said Indian people revere Suu Kyi for the sacrifices she has made. Sonia recalled how on receiving the news of the assassination of Suu Kyi's father, Nehru had written to her mother saying he had lost a friend who was looked at with hope by Burma and Asia. "You are the worthy inheritor of a noble father's legacy," she said.

 

[INDIC]

What India did was correct because junta was not listening to anyone.

 

[MST]

Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi returns to India college

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has visited the Delhi college from which she graduated with a degree in politics nearly 50 years ago.

Old friends, teachers, diplomats and students turned out in large numbers at the Lady Sri Ram College to greet her.

As she entered the packed auditorium, where she had performed plays as a young college student, she was greeted with rapturous cheers.

This is her first visit to India in almost 40 years.

Her trip comes two years after elections in Burma that formally ended military rule.

Ms Suu Kyi, a pro-democracy leader who spent many years under house arrest, was released shortly after the November 2010 polls in Burma.

Her party has now rejoined the political process and secured a small presence in parliament after winning by-elections in April 2012.

'Sparkling eyes'
On Friday, many of the college girls were dressed in the traditional Burmese longyi or long skirt.

Ms Suu Kyi was warmly welcomed by her former teachers, many of whom remembered her as a quiet young girl.

"She was so dignified and had such sparkling eyes," said Nirmala Khanna who taught her international studies in 1964.

"I want to be able to say to her how proud of her I am, how she's grown up into a beautiful woman with so much poise."

"The people of India have an emotional bond with me," Ms Suu Kyi said. "I always knew I would come back here."

But the Burmese leader also spoke of how India and Indians needed to support her cause even more.

"I wish to remind you that we haven't yet achieved democracy in Burma," she said. "We need you to help us in our progression towards democracy."

Ms Suu Kyi also spoke of a growing perception that Indians no longer valued democracy, saying that it was only "when you don't have democracy that you realise how precious it is".

As she stepped out of the hall to greet old friends and associates, she was mobbed.

"It's such an honour to see her in person," said one young girl. "She's such an inspiration, such an icon for us."

Many hoped that the Nobel peace prize winner would go on to win the 2015 elections.

"She's not just a citizen of Burma," said another young student. "She belongs to India as well and the rest of the world."

It has been a homecoming of sorts for Aung San Suu Kyi to the country where she spent many formative years as a young girl.

For years India supported her push for democracy but in recent years, the Indian government distanced itself from her as it made peace with the Burmese generals.

Now Indians are looking to renew their special bond with the shy young Burmese girl they first met nearly five decades ago.
---------------------


India and the future Burmese leadership getting so close. Very Very Very bad news for Bangladesh

 

[Green Hornet]

Just as soon as Hindu B@tards like yourself tell me about the hanging of Narendra Modi for killing of 3000+ innocent Indian citizens.

Hindu b@stard like me??? Do you really think Muslims can afford to call others b@stards??? No religion in the world had done as much killings in the name of religion as that of islam. I think its because of great warriors like narendra modi and bal thakre, the muslims murderersand butchers are told their place in the society. And you are askings them to be hanged?? Go first hang b@sterds such as yourselves along with your muslim maggots brothers who are responsible for such great people to kill muslims in the first place. Muslims got their blood flowing in their veins by killing others and sucking off their blood, you people are nothing but a bunch of blood seeking parasite. You people deserve to die.

 

[Pakistanisage]

Hindu b@stard like me??? Do you really think Muslims can afford to call others b@stards??? No religion in the world had done as much killings in the name of religion as that of islam. I think its because of great warriors like narendra modi and bal thakre, the muslims murderersand butchers are told their place in the society. And you are askings them to be hanged?? Go first hang b@sterds such as yourselves along with your muslim maggots brothers who are responsible for such great people to kill muslims in the first place. Muslims got their blood flowing in their veins by killing others and sucking off their blood, you people are nothing but a bunch of blood seeking parasite. You people deserve to die.

I responded to what you said and this is what you said:

Can you tell us which hypothetical muslim bastard$ the world needs to ask about the killings done around the world by them in the name of jihad??.

You are nothing but a lowlife cowardly Hindu CS who can throw insults from behind the safety of a computer keyboard. Hindus like you chicken out when face to face. Narendra Modi and Bal thakeray are warriors ? On what planet ? These lowlife Hindu bastards can only make big statements like yourself as long as they are hidden. Muslims come and Fck you guys in your homes , blow up your Hotels and your Parliament and you Hindu Cowards make verbal threats and do nothing.

Where was the warrior Bal Thakeray when Taj Hotel was burning in Mumbai ? I bet Bal Thakeray wet and soiled his Pants while all that was going on and narendra Modi was shaking in his Dhoti.


You Hindu bastards are impotent lowlife. Have you no shame ? All you do is talk like Impotent eunuchs. I bet if you ran into me you Sh*t in your Pants, but you talk vey brave from behind the safety of a keyboard. Have some shame Hindu Bastard.

If I were a Hindu impotent Bastard like yourself, I would not be highlighting the fact on how Muslim terrorist have been screwing you. By doing so you only advettise your impotence.

So next time be careful about throwing insult at Muslims, little boy.