10 November 2009 / REUTERS, YANGON
Myanmar’s detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, expressed hope on Monday that US engagement with the county’s military rulers could spur democratic reforms, her lawyer said.
In rare praise for the regime that has kept her in detention for 14 of the last 20 years, Suu Kyi thanked the junta for allowing her to see Kurt Campbell, the top US official for East Asia. The Nobel Peace Prize winner was allowed to meet for almost three hours on Monday with her lawyers, who agreed to submit an appeal with the Supreme Court against her conviction in August for a security breach while under house arrest. “She told us she was quite satisfied with Mr. Campbell’s visit ... She said he’s the sort of person we can work with,” lawyer Nyan Win told reporters. “She also expressed her thanks to the regime for their assistance during Campbell’s visit.” The two-day visit by the US delegation was the first of its kind in 14 years and came as part of Washington’s new policy of direct engagement with the generals.
