Turning point in Burma: Suu Kyi could get govt role

Yangon - Democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi, 66, could be given a post in Myanmar’s nominally civilian government if she is elected to parliament, presidential adviser Nay Zin Latt told AFP on Sunday.

Myanmar (also known as Burma) is to hold by-elections on April 1. The Nobel laureate is likely to be elected into a parliament still largely composed of the military and ruling army-backed party. Anyway, after the by-elections she would be given a “suitable” position in government if she wishes so, said the adviser. The Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrests in November 2010, after having being deprived of liberty during most of the last two decades. In an interview with the BBC last week, she optimistically foresaw "full democratic elections in my lifetime," adding: "but then of course I don't know how long I'm going to live. But if I live a normal lifespan, yes." Ms Suu Kyi told the broadcaster she did not know when and if she would have a chance to stand for President: "I'm not even sure it's something I'd do," she said. Asked about the current government she replied: "I trust the president, but I can't yet trust the government for the simple reason that I don't yet know all the members of government." Myanmar has made slow progress, she said, but it isnot "as fast as a lot of us would like it to be. But on the other hand I don't think it's too slow. It's slow but not too slow". Consequently, Ms Suu Kyi asked again for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar - regardless of whether the government admitted their existence. Ms Suu Kyi also called for Western countries to invest in Myanmar, which was suffering from "reputation risk". In the past, she had called for the West to boycott her country. Also Ms Suu Kyi's political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), has recently been permitted to run for parliamentary elections. "They can be the ruling party one day," said Nay Zin Latt, and "Ms Suu Kyi may rule the country," he admitted. In Myanmar, between 500 and 2,000 political prisoners remain locked in jail. The army continues bloody operations against ethnic groups in the eastern and north-eastern borders. Censorship, though somewhat eased, remains heavy. Political life and the economy are dominated directly and indirectly by the ruling regime.