Than Shwe to visit cyclone-hit delta

by Mizzima News
Saturday, 03 October 2009 16:35

(Mizzima) – The Burmese military junta supremo Snr. Gen Than Shwe will pay a two-day visit to the cyclone-hit region of the Irrawaddy delta next week as part of a good will trip to show solidarity and support to victims of Cyclone Nargis, which ravaged the area in May 2008.

Sources in the military said, Than Shwe’s trip will commence on October 6. He will attend the inaugural ceremony of the Yuzana Cyclone Shelter in Pyar Pone Township. Other cyclone shelters cannot be inaugurated as they have not been completed in time, the source added.

Than Shwe is currently in Rangoon, meeting and accepting gifts and offerings from military officials and his business cronies, the source said.

Surprising as it may seem, the military top brass has been speculating that Than Shwe is likely to meet detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

“If everything goes well, Than Shwe is likely to meet her. Otherwise, somebody else will meet Aung San Suu Kyi,” the source said without elaborating on the terms and conditions that Than Shwe is looking for meeting the detained opposition leader.

Earlier today, the Junta’s Liaison Minister Aung Kyi met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at Sein Le Kan Thar government guest house in Rangoon for 40 minutes.

While details of the meeting, which began at 1 p.m. (local time), is still not available, opposition sources believe it could be related to the Nobel Peace Laureate’s proposal to Than Shwe, sent last month.

The National League for Democracy party leader, in her letter dated September 25, said she is willing to work with Than Shwe to help ease sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union and Australia.

For which, Aung San Suu Kyi had asked Than Shwe to allow her meetings with representatives of the US, EU and Australia to get an idea of their stance on sanctions.