Aung San Suu Kyi held an election press conference at her house in Bahan Township today. We didn’t get in, so we wrote about it in our diary.
7:45 – Arrive. Stand in line. Line not so long. Relieved.
7:50 – Line moving briskly. Yes! Swap story with journalist about first trip to Myanmar and failed attempt to visit Suu Kyi’s house. Notice many people with red NLD passes/badges. Get nervous. Realize later that story contained ominous foreshadowing, like in bad novel.
8:00 – Denied entry at door due to lack of badge. Make argument. Lose argument. Scene not at all like favorite scene in Blazing Saddles movie.
8:03 – Wait
8:04 – Wait
8:05 – Get frustrated. Kick self for lack of preparation. Anger deflects to better-prepared strangers as they stream into door. Door opens. Inside is billboard of a guard dog. Door closes.
8:14 – Make personal appeal at door. Gaze inside. See so much space. Get confused. Door closes again.
8:15 – Wait.
8:20 – Foreigner makes appeal to NLD spokesman in excellent Burmese. Grow jealous of foreigner’s Burmese skills. Kick self for not having similar Burmese skills. Foreigner’s request denied. Feel better. LOL.
8:22 – Wait. Press conference beings at 9am. Most people inside. Small group of unprepared outside.
8:23 – “I really need you to make an exception,” says foreign journalist at door. No exception made.
8:25 – News crew arrives. They have a ladder. A fucking ladder. They get in.
8:33 – “Can I speak to someone,” says latest appellant in British accent.
8:36 – “Please,” appellant says.
8:36 to 8:38 – Appellant identifies as Richard Lloyd Parry “from the [London] Times.” Asks to speak to NLD member U Nyan Win.
Five minutes or so later – Nyan Win miraculously arrives, as if summoned by mention of his name. Journalists swarm car, beg him for entrance. Parry allowed in. Others kept out.
8:40 – Develop irrational dislike of Parry.
Around 9am – Look on Twitter. Speech has started. Curse. Get in taxi. Leave. Cry inside.
Photos / Coconuts Yangon
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