Reuters breaks new ground in interview with Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi

A Nov. 19 Reuters interview with recently freed Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi broke substantial ground and provided insight into changes taking place in one of the world’s most isolated states since her Nov. 13 release from house arrest. In the interview, Suu Kyi made clear that she was willing to work with Myanmar`s junta rather than agitate to unravel a new political system set up by the military regime. The comments by the 65-year-old Nobel peace laureate were the strongest yet illustrating her intention to engage the junta to bring about democratic reforms. “We have not ruled out cooperation with military,” she said. In previous interviews with other media, she would only go as far as saying she wanted to talk with the junta, without elaborating on the more important question of whether she was in fact willing to work with the generals. She also removed any doubt that she would return to the political scene. “I am a politician,” she told Reuters emphatically. She also said she was not yet ready to call for the removal of Western sanctions. Days earlier Reuters was 80 minutes ahead with news the military-backed USDP had won Myanmar’s widely-condemned election and first with pro-democracy parties conceding defeat.