by Mizzima News
Friday, 14 August 2009 14:01
New Delhi (Mizzima) - United States Senator Jim Webb, on a five-nation whistle stop tour of Asia, arrived in Burma’s new jungle capital Nyapyitaw at about 11:30 a.m. on Friday, the US embassy spokesperson said.
Senator Webb, who is the first high-ranking US official to visit Naypyitaw in more than a decade, will be meeting Burmese junta supremo Snr Gen Than Shwe and senior members of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
“We don’t know who he is meeting but he will return to Rangoon on Saturday and leave the country on Sunday,” Richard Mei, US embassy spokesperson, told Mizzima.
Meanwhile, four central executive committee members of Burma’s main opposition party – the National League for Democracy – are on their way to Naypyitaw, on the invitation of the junta.
While it is not clear whether the NLD leaders will meet Jim Webb, Win Tin an executive committee member of the NLD said he suspects the invitation to Naypyitaw could be for a meeting.
If the meeting between Shwe and Webb takes place, it will be the first time that a senior American official will ever meet Burma's top leader, a statement issued by the Senator’s office said.
Friday, August 14, 2009
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