DATE=5/17/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-289916

TITLE=BURMA SUU KYI TRAVELS (L-O)

DATELINE=BANGKOK

BYLINE=NANCY-AMELIA COLLINS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT=

INTRO: Burma's newly released democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has tested her new freedom by traveling outside the capital to visit a provincial party office. More on the story from Nancy-Amelia Collins in Bangkok.

TEXT: Aung San Suu Kyi's visit to her National League for Democracy office in Shwepyitha (SHWAY BYI THA) met no opposition from the authorities.

N-L-D officials said Suu Kyi met with party officials, made a short speech, and then returned to her lakeside home.

It is the first successful trip the opposition leader has made outside the capital in four-years. Earlier attempts to leave the capital were blocked by the government and led to her second house arrest 19-months ago.

Aung San Suu Kyi was released May sixth after months of secret negotiations with the government. Although she traveled only 32-kilometers, her trip tested the government's willingness to allow the popular democracy leader unrestricted travel.

Political analyst Doctor Sunet (PRONO: sue net) (one name) from Bangkok's Chulalungkorn University calls the trip an important first step for political development in Burma, also called Myanmar.

/// ACT 1 SUNET ///

Nevertheless, I believe there is a long way to go. Because when it comes to Myanmar politics you see, particularly concerning the role of Aung San Suu Kyi, we have seen that there is only one important channel that could lead her to power, that is general elections.

/// END ACT ///

Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest for six-years in 1990 after the N-L-D won national elections. Burma's ruling generals, who have controlled the country for 40-years, never allowed the N-L-D to govern, and killed and imprisoned thousands of democracy supporters.

Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Burma's independence hero, Aung San, won the Nobel Peace prize in 1991 while under house arrest. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/NC/KPD/RAE