Lonely Planet interviews Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi

Jan 4, 2011 1:33:03 AM

Austin Bush
Lonely Planet Author

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Burmese opposition politician and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was recently released from a period of house arrest that began in 1989. Lonely Planet author Austin Bush had the chance to Skype with her on topics ranging from her country’s name to what travellers can do to help the Burmese people.

LP: First of all, we have decided use both names for our Myanmar/Burma travel guide, but which do you prefer?

ASSK: I prefer ‘Burma’, because the name was changed [by the government] without any reference to the will of the people.

LP: Previously, you have been opposed to foreign tourists visiting Burma. However, you appear to have softened this stance over the last few years. How do you feel now about foreign tourists visiting the country? Can tourists do anything to benefit the move towards democracy?

ASSK: I think the NLD [National League for Democracy, the main opposition party] came to that decision about six to seven months ago. We are not in favour of group tourists, but we don’t mind if individuals come to Burma. Foreign tourists could benefit Burma if they go about [their travels] in the right way, by using facilities that help ordinary people and avoiding facilities that have close links to the government. If [tourists make the effort] to meet people working for democracy, then it might help.

LP: Why are there so many areas restricted to tourists in Burma? Do you think this will change in the near future?

ASSK: I’m not quite sure. Along the border areas it’s because hostilities might break out again. It also might have something to do with the fact that there aren’t enough facilities for tourists in remote areas.

LP: To many visitors, Yangon (Rangoon), the former Burmese capital, can appear as if it’s caught in a time warp. In your experience as someone who grew up there, how has the city changed over the years? What’s your favourite part of the city?

ASSK: I haven’t noticed any great changes since I’ve been under house arrest. The changes I’ve noticed are that there are many people using handphones [mobile phones], which I hadn’t seen seven years ago. But the streets and buildings appear the same…. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to explore Yangon. The Shwedagon is very important, and Sule Pagoda, but I spend much of my time at the NLD office.

LP: Your father, General Aung San, is viewed by many as the architect of Burmese independence. The museum dedicated to him, located in his former home, appears to be closed. Do you know why?

ASSK: I don’t think [the government] wants to encourage people to go there. They don’t want to remind people too much of my father. Officially they don’t allow portraits of my father to be hung in government offices over the last decade, probably because of the association with me and also because of how my father regarded the role of the army.

This interview with Aung San Suu Kyi will appear in the next edition of Lonely Planet’s Myanmar (Burma) guidebook.

If you want to explore Burma yourself, be sure to take along a copy of Lonely Planet’s Myanmar (Burma) guide.

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Comments

4 January 2011 4:55PM gregknudsen Report this comment
Rangoon is no longer the capital; it is Naypyidaw.
4 January 2011 8:34PM vivekw Report this comment
Thanks gregknudsen for the pickup - we've changed it to "former capital".
5 January 2011 1:06PM signatureasia Report this comment
It is to be expected after such a long time in isolation, but Aung San Suu Kyi appears to be rather ill-informed about the current tourism environment in Burma. The fact is that most facilities by now are on private hands, but except for a few known companies it is nearly impossible for individual travelers to assess who are the owners behind them. While local operators who arrange group tours do have this knowledge and can plan accordingly.
19 April 2011 4:09PM hoteldelta Report this comment
Additionally to the comment above, there are many areas where one can travel (anno 2011) if having a permit. The latter can be obtained through MTT rather easily, and you do *NOT* have to travel in organised tours nor stay at government-owned hotels. You simply have to prepare your trip properly in advance and send MTT some sort of itinary. You can even have permits being faxed to - for example - Kawthoung if that is your point of entry (yes you can start there and travel), so you don't have to go to Yangon. LP recommends certain guesthouses and travel agencies that deliberately do *NOT* give correct info (in order to make money by selling plane tickets for example).
Nb. The really restricted areas (no-go zones, nearly all of them at Thai border) are in the hands of "clans" active in not so kosjer activities. That's the main reason why the government doesn't want tourists to go there (they have no control there, it's the "wild west").
6 July 2011 3:02AM jbo2409 Report this comment
It's more than clear for anyone reading this that Aung San Suu khi is saying "do no travel to Burma". This is a regime that enslaved it's people and rules it like a medieval fiefdom. To the detriment of humanity and the developed west we stand back and allow it to continue by providing tacit approval when we vote and assent to our governments foreign policies to continue with economic investment in the country. Our tourist dollars will continue to fund the military junta and will not benefit the Burmese and other minority ethnic groups in this country. It is a sham to see Burma described as being that authentic Asian experience by this website, as if impoverishment and lack of democratic freedom is some kind of Asian normality. Go and visit Burma if it gives you a real flavour of travelling beyond the boundaries of civilisation. But ask yourself the question why? What is self gratification worth?