Thursday, August 23, 2012

Suu Kyi, Thein Sein meet again in Naypyitaw

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Thursday, 23 August 2012 12:45 Mizzima News

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein met again on Wednesday for private talks, the second meeting in less than two weeks.

The director of the president's office, Col. Zaw Htay, confirmed Suu Kyi and Thein Sein met, but he declined to provide details of the talks.

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein are shown in an earlier meeting, in a file photo. Photo: MRTV

They have met on three previous occasions, most recently on Aug. 12. No details of that meeting were released.

Suu Kyi is the defacto leader of the main opposition group in Parliament, which is currently in session.

On August 12, Mizzima reported that their third meeting together included Cabinet members, a first for Suu Kyi and Thein Sein, who have forged an informal agreement to cooperate in addressing the country’s many obstacles to peace and economic development.

The recent meetings underscore the government’s desire to use Suu Kyi to try to try to resolve some of the decades-old issues that prevent national reconciliation and hinder economic development.

Among the recent high profile issues is the Muslim Rohingya community in western Burma, where two months of community clashes with Rakhine natives claimed up to 88 dead and the destruction of more than 5,000 homes and other property.

Soe Thane, who leads a government panel conducting peace talks with ethnic groups, also attended the third meeting in Naypyitaw, said government officials.

Two weeks ago, Suu Kyi was appointed to lead a parliamentary committee charged with ensuring the country’s institutions conform to the rule of law, an issue that dominated her campaign for Parliament in April.

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