Burma's Opposition leader to give national address

PHOTO Aung San Suu Kyi waves to supporters in Mandalay earlier this week. [AFP]

Last Updated: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 15:51:00 +1100 ... 

Burma's Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi says she has been given approval by the government to address the nation on state-controlled National Television for the first time.
She has told an election rally of around 50,000 supporters near Mandalay that she expects to make her television address later this month, about a week before the April 1st by-election.

Her National League for Democracy party is fielding candidates for all 48 seats at stake in the poll.

Ms Suu Kyi says she is being allowed to appear on national television on condition she reads a prepared script.

But she did not say if the address would have to be approved by the government.

The head of Radio Australia's Burmese Service Khin Mar Win was at the Mandalay rally and says those at the rally were mainly from the struggling classes.

She says the fact that so many turned up shows there is a change in the social climate in Burma.

"The difference is that there is a lot of energy, a lot of motivation, a lot of happiness, a lot of freedom, " she said.

"The freedom is in the sense that people openly come out whereas they don't dare to talk about it very much."

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201203/3447011.htm