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BANGKOK – For 24 years, Aung San Suu Kyi was either under house arrest ortoo fearful that if she left Myanmar, the government would neverlet her return. Now, in a sign of how much life there has changed, the democracyactivist and long-time political prisoner is resuming worldtravels, arriving Tuesday night in neighboring Thailand after an85-minute flight from her homeland. With the installation of an elected government last year, and herparty's own entrance into parliament this year, she can claim atleast partial success for her long fight and feel the freedom toexplore the world. Suu Kyi is to spend several days in Thailand, meeting with poormigrant workers and war refugees from her homeland, as well asinternational movers and shakers at the World Economic Forum onEast Asia. On arrival at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, she was whisked to acar amid heavy security, bypassing a large crowd of waitingjournalists. She'll return to Myanmar briefly and head to Europe in mid-June,with stops including Geneva and Oslo -- to formally accept theNobel Peace Prize she won 21 years ago. In Dublin, she'll share a stage with U2 frontman Bono, a staunchSuu Kyi supporter, at a concert in her honor, according to Irishmedia. In England, she has been given the rare honor of addressingboth houses of Parliament. France's Foreign Ministry says she alsoplans to stop in Paris. The tour marks Suu Kyi's latest step in a stunning trajectory fromhousewife to political prisoner to opposition leader in Parliament,as Myanmar opens to the outside world and sheds a half century ofmilitary rule, with President Thein Sein getting her back for amambitious program of reforms. Meetings with world leaders areplanned along the way as dignitaries line up to shake Suu Kyi'shand. Earlier Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with herin Yangon, saying her "life and her struggle, her determination hasinspired millions of people all over the world" and inviting her tovisit his country. The trip "signifies a strong vote of confidence on Suu Kyi's partin the seriousness of the reforms underway in the country," saidSuzanne DiMaggio, the Asia Society's vice president of GlobalPolicy Programs. "She would not take the risk of the leavingMyanmar if she wasn't absolutely certain she would be allowed toreturn." The last time the 66-year-old Nobel laureate flew abroad was a yearbefore the Berlin Wall came down, in April 1988, when she traveledfrom London to Myanmar to nurse her dying mother. Until then she had led an international lifestyle, growing uppartly in India, where her mother was ambassador. She laterattended Oxford, worked for the United Nations in New York andBhutan and then married British academic Michael Aris and raisedtheir two sons in England. Suu Kyi returned to Myanmar just as an uprising erupted against themilitary regime. As daughter of Gen. Aung San, the country'sindependence hero, she was thrust into the forefront ofdemonstrations until the military brutally crushed the protests andlocked her under house arrest in 1989. Over the next two decades she became the world's most famouspolitical prisoner. During intermittent periods of freedom, shedeclined opportunities to go abroad for fear she would not beallowed to re-enter Myanmar. Suu Kyi's commitment to the cause came at high personal cost. In1999, she stayed in Myanmar even as her husband was dying of cancerin England. They last saw each other in 1995, after which the juntadenied Aris a visa. After her release from house arrest in November 2010, Suu Kyi hadan emotional reunion with her younger son, Kim Aris, when the juntagave him a visa after a decade-long separation. The English leg of Suu Kyi's trip is bound to include some familytime. She will celebrate her 67th birthday on June 19 while inEngland, where Kim lives. Suu Kyi's aides have offered few details about her trip aside fromthe destinations, saying only that she will pack medicine formotion sickness. "She gets airsick and seasick very easily. She will have to takeher pills to prevent airsickness," said Win Htein, a seniorofficial from her National League for Democracy party. He said shewas typically stoic ahead of her travels: "She doesn't look tooexcited about it." Thailand was not part of the original itinerary but Suu Kyi decidedlast week to attend the economic forum. She has a Friday speakingslot that is bound to be the event's main attraction. Suu Kyi's appearance at the conference had threatened to upstagethat of Myanmar President Thein Sein, and he canceled over theweekend citing "urgent matters" at home, said Thai Foreign Ministryspokesman Thani Thongphakdi. He rescheduled his first officialvisit to Thailand for next week. Thein Sein took power last year from the military junta followingelections that were deemed unfair by international observers. Sincethen he has surprised much of the world by engineering sweepingreforms, though military leaders still have great control over thecountry. Since Suu Kyi's release, many international dignitaries havevisited her in Myanmar, including U.S. Secretary of State HillaryRodham Clinton in December and British Prime Minister David Cameronin April. Cameron suggested she visit her "beloved Oxford" in June. Suu Kyi replied at the time: "Two years ago I would have said'Thank you for the invitation, but sorry.' But now I am able to say'Perhaps,' and that's great progress.". I am an expert from hydrotu.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Bulb Hydro Turbine , Pelton Hydro Turbine Manufacturer, Turgo Hydro Turbine,and more.
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