Suu Kyi calls for political, judicial reforms in Burma during landmark campaign speech

Rangoon, Mar 15 (ANI): Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has called for further political and judicial reforms in the country in a landmark campaign speech on state-controlled media.

She not only called for "repressive laws" to be revoked, and constitutional reform and the "democratic rights of the people" to be better protected, but also called for a freer media and a stronger judiciary.

"All repressive laws must be revoked, and laws introduced to protect the rights of the people," The BBC quoted Suu Kyi, as saying.

"The judiciary must be strengthened and released from political interference," she added.

Suu Kyi was able to make the address under a government provision that allows parties contesting by-elections on 1 April to be given 15-minute slots on television and radio, a significant new departure in Burma.

According to the report, her remarks were a step forward for Burma, which normally has repressive prior censorship of political speeches that are broadcast or appear in print media.

The Nobel Peace laureate cited a provision in the 2008 constitution, which reserves a quarter of all seats for the military in the country with a nominally civilian government.

She said that this meant that the current parliament is composed of un-elected people, and that was not democracy. (ANI)