Sincere response expected from Than Shwe to Suu Kyi

by Mungpi
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 14:54

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Burmese junta has partially granted detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s request to meet ailing party leaders on Wednesday, a senior member of her party said.

Win Tin, a central executive committee (CEC) member of the National League for Democracy, on Tuesday told Mizzima that authorities are arranging a meeting between detained party General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi and ailing party chairman Aung Shwe, Secretary U Lwin and CEC member Lun Tin on Wednesday.

“We don’t know where they will be meeting but it looks like the three ailing party leaders will be brought to a guest house, possibly Seinle Kantha, where Daw Suu will also be brought,” Win Tin said.

The meeting is being arranged in response to the Nobel Peace Laureate’s request to the junta supremo Snr Gen Than Shwe last month. Aung San Suu Kyi, in her second letter sent in November requested Than Shwe to allow her to pay her respects to the ailing party leaders, a meeting with the NLD CEC including detained party vice-chairman Tin Oo.

The pro-democracy leader, in her letter, also said, she wanted to meet the Senior General in order to further discuss activities related to easing sanctions for the interest of the people of Burma.

Asked if the development could be interpreted as a positive sign and a softer approach by the government, Win Tin said, “I do not think it is a positive sign because this is a partial grant to Daw Suu’s request. And it is not being allowed in the way she had asked for. She wanted to visit the house of the three ailing party leaders.”

If the government was sincere, it would have been easier for them to allow Aung San Suu Kyi to pay visits to the three NLD leaders at their respective homes instead of bringing them to a location as they are ill and weak, he added.

The veteran journalist said the meeting was the easiest request by Aung San Suu Kyi to be granted and it does not hurt the junta’s interest. But he said, he doubts if the junta would be willing to grant her other requests of allowing a meeting with the NLD CEC including Tin Oo, who is also under house arrest since May 2003.

“I don’t know if the government will allow Daw Suu to meet the CEC as her request includes meeting Tin Oo. And as for her request to meet Than Shwe, I think it is very unlikely though it would be most welcome if he changes his mind and starts meeting Daw Suu,” Win Tin said.

Earlier, Win Tin told Mizzima that he wants the Burmese junta chief to seriously consider Aung San Suu Kyi’s proposal for a meeting with him and take his time to analyze before coming up with any response, as it is a matter that would have an impact on Burma’s political future.

“He should consider all aspects including the peoples’ future. It is not a matter of just ‘Tatmadaw’ and Daw Suu, it is a matter that concerns the whole country,” he added.