Suu Kyi attracts most attention at Thai economic summit | WPN World People News

With global economic concerns looming large, this was supposed to be a forum to discuss South East Asian economy but with "The Lady" at the centre of attraction, the World Economic Forum held in the Thai capital fast turned to be the Aung San Suu Kyi show.

Suu Kyi, who is on her first foreign trip in nearly quarter of the century, made almost all heads turn when she arrived for a session on the role of tourism in Southeast Asia.

The pro-democracy leader and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner pulled a battery of TV camera persons and photographers at the session as reporters and her well wishers were also jostling to catch a glimpse of the woman who stayed in house arrest for 15 years battling for democracy in the formerly military ruled Myanmar.

"It's a full house. Is it because of the quality of the panelists or is it because of the presence of 'The Lady?'" Surin Pitsuwan, Association of Southeast Asian Nations secretary-general, said in his address.

He then nodded to Suu Kyi, who was sitting in the center of the front row.

The Myanmar opposition leader is fondly called as the "The Lady" not only as a gesture of respect but also because for years it was considered dangerous to utter her name aloud in the military ruled nation.

She arrived in Thailand Tuesday and has been the centre of attraction wherever she goes, attracting a crush of journalists.

However for much of the trip, Suu Kyi has been trying to keep a low profile, making limited comments to the media.

But she has been repeatedly visiting Myanmarese migrant workers in Bangkok's hardscrabble industrial suburbs.

She was greeted by thousands of the impoverished workers who fled to Thailand to escape decades of misrule in their homeland.

She is also expected to meet with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during her visit.

Following her Thailand trip, Aung San Suu Kyi will return to Myanmar briefly before leaving for a European tour that will take her to several countries.

Source:The Asia News.Net