Don't derail democracy, Suu Kyi tells West

Aung San Suu Kyi meets wellwishers in Switzerland. Picture / AP

Any foreign investment in Burma must help the progress of democracy, the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said during her first visit to Europe in almost 25 years.

Speaking at the International Labour Organisation in Geneva, the Nobel laureate said companies seeking to take advantage of the lifting of sanctions by the West must not hinder the path of reform.

"I would like to call for aid and investment that will strengthen the democratisation process by promoting social and economic progress that is beneficial to political reform."

Suu Kyi, 66, apparently decided to make the ILO her first stop on her summer tour of Europe because of the work the group had done highlighting child labour and exploitation in Burma, particularly at the hands of the military authorities.

In turn, the ILO decided to reward Thein Sein, Burma's President, for the flurry of reforms his Government has made by lifting restrictions that have blocked Burma's involvement in the organisation's work since 1999.

The democracy leader will head to Oslo today where she will make a belated acceptance speech and accept the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to her 21 years ago.

At the time, she was being detained by Burma's military authorities following the 1990 election that her National League for Democracy had won but which the junta refused to acknowledge.

Her foreign visit - marking the first time for 24 years that she has been either able or willing to leave Burma - comes as President Thein Sein is facing a major test over his ability to deal with raging ethnic violence in Burma's west.

More than 21 people have been killed and hundreds have lost their homes in violent clashes between Muslims and Buddhists and thousands of Muslims are trying to flee Burma after some of the worst ethnic violence in decades.

Local politician Aung Myat Kyaw said tensions were easing but 20,000 refugees in the city of Sittwe needed food and, because of the heavy rain, there were concerns about the refugees' health and whether they have enough shelter.

Asked about the violence, Suu Kyi said: "Without the rule of law such communal strife will only continue.

"The present situation will have to be handled with delicacy and sensitivity and we need the co-operation of all people concerned to rebuild the peace that we want for our country."

- Independent