“The reason I come to Thanbyuzayat is to meet with the public too. This is also a very important place in our history, the prisoners of the war (POW). The people of Burma and soldiers from other countries fell in this place. So, while I come here to visit the cemetery and pay the respect to fallen soldiers, I also come here to meet the public,” said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that in 1946, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s father General Aung San spoke at the opening ceremony of the [alliance] war cemetery. In his speech, he said the people who died here should not only receive benefits for their charitable deeds (one’s meritorious deeds), their work must be followed up and continued. Today’s people must sustain the work people did in the past in order to have an improved and peaceful country [in Burma], and ultimately for world peace.
“Mon State has many colourful ethnic groups. Like this place in Thanbyuzayat, during world war two, the victims were from many different countries. So, we must have metta and care with others,” said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
During thespeech, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi discussed her party’s participation in the 2015 general election and the gathering of party [members] for her party to win the elections. Also, she did a question-and-answer session where the public asked ten questions.
“In the past when we talked about Bogyoke (General) Aung San, we did not even have to mention Aung San, just Bogyoke (General); people would then knew the person. But now there are lots of Bogyoke (generals), so we must use name[s] after the word Bogyoke; so that people will know which Bogyoke we refer to,” said Daw Khin Htay Kwaol, leader of Mon State’s NLD.
During her Mon State trip, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gave a speech on May 16 and 17 in Thanbyuzayat and Mudon towns, respectively, in honor of her late father for the 100th anniversary of his birthday.
Whilst paying her respect at the Alliance War Cemetery (Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi offered memorial wreaths.
“We’ve never seen Daw Suu before. This is our first time. We are [NLD’s] party members, and because our party organized this, we must come,” said a local NLD member, who attended the event.
About 2000 people, including local residents and members of Thanbyuzayat NLD, were present at the event.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi took her first trip to Thanbyuzayat in 2003 for her party campaigns.
