‘Speak up for democracy’

‘‘Most people think they have done their duty if they have voted,’’ Suu Kyi said at the NLD’s ramshackle headquarters in central Yangon. ‘‘What I would like to tell them is that voting alone does not fulfil their duty. They have to take part themselves. It is necessary to carry out organisational activities among people relentlessly.’’

The military government’s strict rule has effectively suppressed open forms of public support for NLD since the party was prevented from taking power after 1990 poll win.

While lauded abroad, eight years of house arrest since 1990 and no domestic media coverage mean the Nobel peace laureate has faded from public view in her country. Suu Kyi’s release on May 6 from her 19-months’ house arrest was not reported in the state media.

On Monday, NLD reiterated its commitment to talks with the junta. ‘‘Holding meaningful dialogue is the only way to tackle the matter concerning results of 1990 general election and to resolve political, economic, social, health and education problems,’’ the NLD said in a statement.(additional reporting by Katie Hunt in Bangkok)

(Reuters)