Educated, experienced, and skillful. One hopes she maintains her interest in HIV.

[him] moderator

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Myanmar opposition chooses HIV/AIDS activist to contest election
Jan 17, 2012, 8:04 GMT

Yangon - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday promoted a well-known HIV/AIDS activist for the April 1 by-election.

'All eligible persons should vote for Phyu Phyu,' Suu Kyi said of the candidate for her National League for Democracy (NLD) in Mingalar Taungnyunt Township of Yangon, the former capital.

More than 1,000 NLD followers attended the rally at the party's new township office and cheered Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, 66.

Phyu Phyu, a former NLD youth leader, has been involved in helping HIV/AIDS victims since 2000.

'Phyu Phyu is very popular here and an outstanding individual,' Suu Kyi said.

The NLD has decided to contest the election for 48 seats left vacant last year when the new cabinet took office, with Suu Kyi running in the Yangon suburb of Kawhmu Township.

Her participation is seen as a positive step for democratic reforms.

The NLD boycotted the November 7, 2010 general election on the grounds that registration regulations would have forced them to expel her from the party.

Suu Kyi, who spent 15 of the past 21 years under house arrest, was released on November 13, 2010, days after the election.

She was an NLD founder in 1988 amid pro-democracy demonstrations that ended with an army crackdown that claimed 3,000 lives.

'We have chosen candidates who are educated, experienced and skillful,' Suu Kyi said. 'And I have especially chosen women.'

'Do you agree with me choosing women,' she asked the crowd, receiving applause from women. 'And what about you men, why aren't you clapping,' she teased, drawing laughs.

The NLD has named 22 candidates so far. The remaining 26 will be announced soon and may include activists amnestied from prison Friday, opposition sources said.

dpa

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