Lee says Suu Kyi must 'face realities'

Lee says Suu Kyi must 'face realities'

SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore's elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew urged the Myanmarese opposition in remarks published here yesterday to "face the realities of life" and accept the army's role in governing their country.

Singapore's Straits Times quoted Lee, on a private European visit, as telling a group of journalists in Paris that even pro- democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi would have to depend on the army if she suddenly came to power.

"At the end of the day, the opposition in Myanmar has to face the realities of life," he reportedly said, adding that "the one instrument of effective government is the army" as the civil service "is not very effective" and police are "part of the army."

The tough-talking Lee, who has been denounced by Myanmarese dissidents for similar remarks last week, described Aung San Suu Kyi as a wonderful symbol of resistance, the newspaper said.

"She wins Nobel prizes -- a shining star. But if she was given power in Myanmar tomorrow, she would have to depend on the army, because there is no other instrument," the 72-year-old former Singapore premier said.

"It would take 10 years for the present government to be defeated, and then they (the victors) would have to form a new army," Lee said.

He said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is courting Myanmar with a policy of "constructive engagement" to promote gradual reform, was itself "facing realities."

"We do not look at the television screen and just go in charging. You cannot just go charging into mad places," Lee said, dismissing "one-track minds" who "believe they can bring about Utopia" by promoting human rights and democracy.

He cited ASEAN's biggest member, Indonesia, as an example of how the army could be used to promote industrialization and ease poverty.

"If Myanmar could succeed in going that way, by civilianizing the army and civilianizing the government, then Myanmar should be helped," Lee said.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It hopes to include Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos as members by 2000, reuniting a region once divided by the Cold War.