Suu Kyi campaigns in Myanmar delta
- 12 years ago
Long Live Mother Suu - the chant greeting Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kui as she hits the campaign trail in Myanmar's agricultural heartland.
Suu Kyi is in the Irawaddy Delta, the country's biggest rice producer, where hundreds braved the scorching heat to greet her.
Farming is the main source of income in Myanmar but farmers - underfunded and overstretched - face tough challenges here.
Many are now pinning their hopes on Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy Party.
(SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) FORMER FARMER KO WIN MAUNG
"We have no money to invest in our farms. The farmers have no money, in reality. So we believe in the NLD party led by Mother Suu."
The pro-democracy leader promised new policies to improve conditions for farmers.
(SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY LEADER AND CANDIDATE FOR PARLIAMENT, AUNG SAN SUU KYI
"It is not enough to abolish the unnecessary rules and regulations. We have to implement rules and regulations that can support farmers, and institutions that will help them."
The April elections are being closely watched by the international community as a test of the new civilian government's sincerity about reforms.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters
Suu Kyi is in the Irawaddy Delta, the country's biggest rice producer, where hundreds braved the scorching heat to greet her.
Farming is the main source of income in Myanmar but farmers - underfunded and overstretched - face tough challenges here.
Many are now pinning their hopes on Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy Party.
(SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) FORMER FARMER KO WIN MAUNG
"We have no money to invest in our farms. The farmers have no money, in reality. So we believe in the NLD party led by Mother Suu."
The pro-democracy leader promised new policies to improve conditions for farmers.
(SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY LEADER AND CANDIDATE FOR PARLIAMENT, AUNG SAN SUU KYI
"It is not enough to abolish the unnecessary rules and regulations. We have to implement rules and regulations that can support farmers, and institutions that will help them."
The April elections are being closely watched by the international community as a test of the new civilian government's sincerity about reforms.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters