Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has met with the country’s president in the capital, Naypyidaw, the first time she has been granted an audience with Burma’s premier.
Little warning was given of the meeting, although officials from her National League for Democracy said that an invitation had arrived on Wednesday for the Nobel laureate to travel to Naypyidaw. It’s not clear whether the invite had explicitly referred to a meeting with Thein Sein, who became president in March this year.
Few details have yet been released about what the two discussed. Khun Thar Myint, a member of the National League for Democracy’s central executive committee, who traveled with Suu Kyi to the capital today, said only that the two appeared “relaxed” after the meeting.
“We don’t know what they discussed in the meeting but it seemed quite warm and causal, so maybe we can remain hopeful. I think Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will make a press release about the discussions in the meeting after she has informed our Central Executive Committee.”
The former Burmese junta, which ruled in various guises until handing power to a nominally civilian government this year, has spent decades attempting to sideline the 66-year-old.
Recent overtures to the political opposition are being seen by some observers as a sign that relations are thawing.
Ko Ko Hlaing, chief political adviser to the president, told AFP ahead of the talks this afternoon that, “It is an important step for national reconciliation. We should all work together”.
