PROME, Pegu Division — Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi apologized for a play staged on Sunday by her National League for Democracy’s Prome office that graphically depicted brutalities by the former military regime.
Suu Kyi arrived at Lay Htet Pyin Ground in Prome where the local NLD’s youth members had organized an event to commemorate this year’s centenary of the birth of Gen. Aung San, Suu Kyi’s father and Burma’s independence leader.
To the surprise of the NLD leader and her entourage the event included a performance with reenactments of past Burma Army brutalities and torture of civilians.
Afterward, Suu Kyi berated the Prome NLD office for the performance and apologized for its contents, saying such events could hinder reconciliation in Burma.
“Though [talking bad of the army] wins applause of the people, we must understand that we should not drive a wedge by digging up bad experiences of the past while we are building national reconciliation,” she told thousands of locals who had gathered to see the popular opposition leader.
Suu Kyi said she was not election campaigning, as it is not yet allowed, adding that she would neither resort to such public displays to garners votes.
“I apologize for the performance,” she said. “I want to win the election, but I want to win rightfully. I don’t want to win it by hook or crook.”
Hla Swe, an Upper House lawmaker with the ruling, army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, told The Irrawaddy in a reaction that he thought the NLD performance was “totally unacceptable.”
Hla Maung Co, deputy chairman of the Union Election Commission, said he had not yet heard of the events in Prome, adding that he was not sure whether the commission would investigate whether the play was a violation of the Election Law.
