Khin Nyunt

45

SECRETARY-1, STATE PEACE & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, MYANMAR
BORN Oct. 11, 1939, in Kyauktan, Myanmar
EDUCATION Officer training course, Yangon. Speaks adequate English
FAMILY Married; two sons, one daughter
QUOTE "Some Western powers, using the cause of human rights as an excuse, have recruited a group of flunkies to meddle in, and disrupt, the internal situation in the country."
POWER POINTS Keeps the junta afloat. Loyal to the military cause, but is a pragmatic workaholic who balances the views of isolationist colleagues with those of young reformist officers.

Le Kha Phieu

46

GENERAL SECRETARY, COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM
BORN Dec. 27, 1931, in Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam
EDUCATION Military University, Vietnam. Speaks Russian
FAMILY Married; two sons, one daughter
QUOTE "Along with bureaucracy and red tape comes lack of democracy."
POWER POINTS Has maintained stability, but the creaking economy remains his greatest challenge.

Aung San Suu Kyi

47

SECRETARY-GENERAL, NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, MYANMAR
BORN June 19, 1945, in Yangon, Myanmar
EDUCATION Oxford University, England
RELIGION Buddhist
FAMILY Widowed; two sons
QUOTE "I think sanctions are good."
POWER POINTS Has managed to maintain a high profile in the world's media and thus keep the cause of democracy in Myanmar alive - no mean feat, given the relatively low priority the country normally gets. Her several attempted trips outside Yangon received worldwide coverage last year. But her inflexibility regarding terms for a dialogue with the military junta threatens to leach away her support base.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

48

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER & HOME MINISTER, MALAYSIA
BORN Nov. 26, 1939, in Penang state, Malaya
EDUCATION University of Malaya
HOBBIES Reading, playing golf
FAMILY Married; one son, one daughter
POWER POINTS "Mr. Clean" of Malaysian politics. Appointed deputy PM a few months after Anwar Ibrahim's sacking and remains a strong candidate to succeed PM Mahathir Mohamad. Lacks the charisma and presence of his boss, but is dedicated and hard-working. Showed his abilities when he won Sabah state for UMNO and ran the country while Mahathir was ill.

Li Hongzhi

49

LEADER, FALUNGONG
BORN 1951, in Changchun, Jilin province, China
RELIGION Falungong
QUOTE "Everyone thinks scientists invent on their own, when in fact their inspiration is manipulated by aliens. The aliens intend to replace all humans with clones."
POWER POINTS Self-proclaimed "oldest original spirit" on earth and charismatic leader of Falungong, a quasi-religious movement based on qigong (type of Chinese yoga). Falungong claims a worldwide membership of 100 million. In April, Li's followers unnerved China's leaders when they staged the largest demonstration in the country since the 1989 democracy movement.


Wan Azizah Wan Ismail

50

PRESIDENT, NATIONAL JUSTICE PARTY, MALAYSIA
BORN Dec. 3, 1952, in Kedah state, Malaya
EDUCATION Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland
HOBBIES Baking cakes, fishing
FAMILY Married to Anwar Ibrahim; five daughters, one son
QUOTE "I am not a politician; Anwar is the politician in the family."
POWER POINTS Key opposition leader. Emerged as the rallying point for Anwar's supporters following his incarceration. Has won many admirers for her staunch support for her husband. Despite her political inexperience, she has been able to attract huge crowds at her rallies, though it is less clear how well she will fare in the elections.

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