Unwell Suu Kyi cuts short speech
Thousands turn out anyway in Mandalay to see opposition leader
'The Lady' spoke for only 15 minutes in Mandalay before 'feeling unwell''
- Mark Chit and John Zaw, Mandalay
- Myanmar
- March 5, 2012
Pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi cut short a speech at one of her biggest campaign rallies on Saturday after telling aides she was feeling unwell.
She had traveled to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second city, to speak to more than 100,000 people, part of a punishing campaign schedule ahead of by-elections on April 1.
The opposition leader had only spoken for 15 minutes before turning to aides and telling them that she was feeling weak.
Before leaving the stage she hailed the crowd, telling them that “this is the largest crowded people I have ever seen since 1988,” when she helped lead a pro-democracy uprising against the military junta.
Suu Kyi was taken to a hotel shortly after where she later said she was feeling better.
“It is necessary for all people to have security of mind. Only if there is rule of law, will people have security. If we know the law, our life is secure and no one can oppress us,” she told the crowd during her speech.
“Now we have parliamentary politics …. We want to hear the voice of the people in parliament. And these voices must be heard by the world,” she added.
Suu Kyi is running for parliament in Kawhmu, an impoverished district south of Yangon.
Earlier, thousands of people had turned out to welcome Suu Kyi after she flew into Mandalay on Saturday morning ahead of the rally.
U Phay Than, 55, had waited hours just to see Suu Kyi.
“We trust her and all the people here admire her that’s why we came. I was very happy to see her,” he said.
Ko Ye, a teacher from Mandalay said it was an amazing and fantastic experience.
“Unfortunately her illness prevented her from speaking longer, which was disappointing. But we look forward to hear what she has to say in the future,” she said.
She had traveled to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second city, to speak to more than 100,000 people, part of a punishing campaign schedule ahead of by-elections on April 1.
The opposition leader had only spoken for 15 minutes before turning to aides and telling them that she was feeling weak.
Before leaving the stage she hailed the crowd, telling them that “this is the largest crowded people I have ever seen since 1988,” when she helped lead a pro-democracy uprising against the military junta.
Suu Kyi was taken to a hotel shortly after where she later said she was feeling better.
“It is necessary for all people to have security of mind. Only if there is rule of law, will people have security. If we know the law, our life is secure and no one can oppress us,” she told the crowd during her speech.
“Now we have parliamentary politics …. We want to hear the voice of the people in parliament. And these voices must be heard by the world,” she added.
Suu Kyi is running for parliament in Kawhmu, an impoverished district south of Yangon.
Earlier, thousands of people had turned out to welcome Suu Kyi after she flew into Mandalay on Saturday morning ahead of the rally.
U Phay Than, 55, had waited hours just to see Suu Kyi.
“We trust her and all the people here admire her that’s why we came. I was very happy to see her,” he said.
Ko Ye, a teacher from Mandalay said it was an amazing and fantastic experience.
“Unfortunately her illness prevented her from speaking longer, which was disappointing. But we look forward to hear what she has to say in the future,” she said.
