"You had an admirable transition from authoritarian rule to democratic government. We envy you, we want to be like you. We want to achieve what you have managed to achieve," she said in video-taped remarks during the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference at the Ciputra Hotel here Tuesday.
Suu Kyi said the Myanmar people started their struggle for democracy in 1988, with the aspiration to have the freedom to determine their own destiny.
"They wanted to live in a land free from fear, they wanted to live in a nation where they can elect their own government, they wanted a government of the people, for the people, by the people," said the leader of Myanmar`s National League for Democracy.
Suu Kyi expressed hope that ASEAN countries would help the Myanmar people in their struggle for democracy and their efforts to strengthen the role of civil society in their country.
She said contacts and engagement between the people and government officials in ASEAN countries were an important factor that contributed to the development of the region.
"I hope the time will come where there will be a free exchange of ideas and of people between Myanmar and other ASEAN countries. The time will come where we all agree we want a
better world based on basic human rights for all of us. When we come to the point that ASEAN will be a happier and stronger region," she said.
The ACSC/APF is an annual meeting held alongside every ASEAN Summit. It is a forum that gathers common people and government officials to have a dialogue. The event is also meant to increase the awareness of people in the region about the mechanism and activities conducted by ASEAN as an organization.
The forum is expected to strengthen partnership among people and government officials in ASEAN, deliver people`s recommendations to the leaders of ASEAN while also building solidarity and cooperation among nations in Southeast Asia.
This year`s ACSC/APF meeting in Jakarta is participated in by 1,330 people coming from ASEAN countries, Timor Leste, China, Japan, South Korea, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Among the themes that are usually discussed in the meeting are democracy, climate change, children and teenager`s rights, rights of the disabled, agriculture, labor rights and refugees. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
