Myanmar opposition leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, called for democracy-friendly responsible investment into her country, as she kicked off her visit to Britain, a country she had last visited 24 years ago.
“Investors must take responsibility for the business they do in the country…not just the environmental considerations but also taking into consideration the consequences of possible long-term results,” she told a packed theatre at the London School of Economics.
Biggest challenges
Tackling Myanmar’s high unemployment rate and weak educational system was one of the biggest challenges facing the country going forward, and one that investors should bear in mind, she said. “We want to encourage investment that creates jobs…we want to encourage investment that creates vocational training,” she said.
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent 15 years under house arrest since her return to the country in 1988, is on a five-nation tour of Europe. She’s due to visit Oxford University, and will hold meetings with the British Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, and the Prince of Wales. She will also address the Houses of Parliament.
Panel debate
The event was not the emotional one that many had keenly expected: at Ms Aung San Suu Kyi’s insistence the discussion took the form of a panel debate, focusing on what the rule of law meant and would mean for Burma. Addressing the problem with the rule of law in Myanmar would be essential if her country was to tackle its many other problems, including ethnic conflict.
“Unless people see justice is done and seen to be done we cannot believe in genuine reform. We have to know that reform is based on the rule of law and reform should be used equally,” she said. “If we are to meet the aspirations of ethnic nationalities, the constitution will have to be amended to harmonise with the aspirations of those ethnic groups.”
Change is possible
While acknowledging the difficulties of persuading the military, she argued that change was possible. “We think it is possible to work together with the military to make them understand why we think this constitution will not move us in a positive direction.”