This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/30/aung-san-suu-kyi-leaves

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Aung San Suu Kyi leaves Burma for first time in 24 years Aung San Suu Kyi leaves Burma for first time in 24 years
(about 1 hour later)
Aung San Suu Kyi has embarked on her first trip abroad in nearly 25 years, visiting Burmese people who have fled to neighbouring Thailand during military rule.Aung San Suu Kyi has embarked on her first trip abroad in nearly 25 years, visiting Burmese people who have fled to neighbouring Thailand during military rule.
Her arrival in Bangkok on Tuesday offered proof of how confident the Nobel peace laureate is in the nation's new reformist leaders. She spent 15 of the last 24 years under house arrest, daring not to leave even to visit her dying husband because she was so fearful that the nation's army rulers would not allow her to return. Her arrival in Bangkok on Tuesday offered proof of how confident the Nobel peace laureate is in the nation's new reformist leaders.
In a sign of how much life there is changing, the democracy activist and newly admitted member of parliament is traveling across Thailand, comfortable in the notion she will be able to go back home. On Wednesday she was expected to visit Mahachai, a town about 20 miles (30km) south-west of Bangkok that is home to the largest population of Burmese migrants in Thailand, which has about 2.5 million poor Burmese working as servants or manual labourers. She spent 15 of the last 24 years under house arrest, daring not to leave even to visit her dying husband because she was so fearful that the nation's army rulers would not allow her to return.
In a sign of how much life there is changing, the democracy activist and newly admitted member of parliament is traveling across Thailand, comfortable in the notion she will be able to go back home.
On Wednesday, she was expected to visit Mahachai, a town about 20 miles (30km) south-west of Bangkok that is home to the largest population of Burmese migrants in Thailand, which has about 2.5 million poor Burmese working as servants or manual labourers.
Andy Hall, a migrant expert and researcher at the Institute for Population and Social Research at Thailand's Mahidol University, said the migrants were "the lifeblood of a lot of the Myanmar economy, sending home money to support families who don't have enough money to eat".Andy Hall, a migrant expert and researcher at the Institute for Population and Social Research at Thailand's Mahidol University, said the migrants were "the lifeblood of a lot of the Myanmar economy, sending home money to support families who don't have enough money to eat".
"They have no voice, they can never speak up or stand up," Hall said. "So for Aung San Suu Kyi to visit is like a dream come true, someone who finally may be able to bring attention to their suffering.""They have no voice, they can never speak up or stand up," Hall said. "So for Aung San Suu Kyi to visit is like a dream come true, someone who finally may be able to bring attention to their suffering."
While in Thailand Aung San Suu Kyi will speak at the World Economic Forum on East Asia. She will return to Burma briefly, then head to Europe, where she will address Britain's parliament before going to Oslo, Norway to formally accept the Nobel she won 21 years ago. While in Thailand Aung San Suu Kyi will speak at the World Economic Forum on East Asia. She will return to Burma briefly, then head to Europe, where she will address Britain's parliament before going to Oslo, Norway to formally accept the Nobel peace prize she won 21 years ago.