Suu Kyi eyeing presidency

18 04 2013 Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has suggested that she’s willing to become the country’s president to spearhead reforms.National League for Democracy leader now visiting Japan, spoke to Japanese media.
She said Myanmar’s democratization and economic reform are still progressing, and that people’s lives haven’t changed even after the country’s transition to civilian rule.She added her party has made a campaign pledge to amend Myanmar’s constitution, enacted under its military government.She admitted that the constitution is one of the most difficult in the world to revise.
She said that winning over 75 percent of lawmakers’ votes as needed for a constitutional amendment would require cooperating with the military, which is allotted 25 percent of parliamentary seats.She also said she believes she has a chance to be elected president.
She referred to increasing conflicts in her country between ethnic minorities and the military, as well as between Buddhists and Muslims.
She noted she will work hard to promote democracy and national reconciliation, saying that peace and unity will be essential for sustainable economic growth.
She said she has no experience in free elections. Stressing that democracy begins with elections, she also said that the next parliamentary election, due in 2015, must be fair and free.
She added that she hopes to speak with the country’s military about revising the constitution as soon as possible.
Political observers say Myanmar’s 2015 presidential election will be Aung San Suu Kyi’s last chance to become the country’s leader. She’ll be 68 years old this year.