Suu Kyi to Meet with Aging NLD Members

By BA KAUNG

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will meet with three senior leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party this week, an NLD official said on Tuesday.

The meeting will probably take place on Wednesday morning, said Khin Maung Swe, the NLD spokesman.

On Monday, Police Brig-Gen Khin Yi and other police officials went to the homes of the NLD party chairman and two senior members to ask if they would agree to meet with Suu Kyi in a yet to be disclosed location, he said.

The meeting is in response to a letter Suu Kyi sent to junta Snr-Gen Than Shwe in which she requested to be allowed to visit the three ailing party leaders in their homes to pay respect to them. Suu Kyi is serving an 18-month sentence under house arrest.

Chairman Aung Shwe is 92 years old, and U Lwin and Lun Tin are octogenarians. All three are former high-ranking military officers who served under former dictator Gen Ne Win.

“The party chairman, Aung Shwe, responded to the police official that even though he prefers Aung San Suu Kyi's request for separate meetings [in their homes], he has no objection if Suu Kyi accepts meeting the three of them together,” Khin Maung Swe said.

Gen Khin Yi told Aung Shwe that he would also meet with Suu Kyi to ask if she would accept the government's arrangement for a single meeting with all three senior party members.

In her letter, Suu Kyi also requested to meet with Sen-Gen Than Shwe and members of the NLD central executive committee.

Asked if Suu Kyi would be allowed to meet with the executive members anytime soon, Khin Maung Swe said, “The government never directly contacts the CEC. It contacts us only through the party chairman. So we don't know.”

On Dec. 9, Suu Kyi and the government's liaison officer, Aung Kyi, had a 45-minute meeting at a government guesthouse. No details of the meeting were released.

Some analysts speculated that Suu Kyi may intend to reform the party and wants aging members who can not perform their duties to retire.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon, Suu Kyi met with her lawyers who have been trying to appeal against her 18-month sentence, said Nyan Win, one of the lawyers.

COMMENTS (2)

Myanmar Patriot 4 UMPF Wrote:

16/12/2009

First, in accordance with our noble Burmese tradition, we pay homage to our elders; U Aung Shwe,U Lwin and U Lun Tin. It must be heart-breaking for them to see the state of our nation. Ideally, they should be in the "House of Ashins," not in a political party. Given their ages, it is extremely sad that they have to lead the NLD. We do not know their philosophies of politics; no doubt they will say they want freedom and democracy. So does everyone. Question is how will they achieve their objectives? And what are their objectives other than getting rid of the SPDC. Have they considered Burma security issues: 1.sovereignty, 2. territorial integrity, 3.unity(social cohesion), 4.culture, 5.religion and 6. environment. And what about the structure of the state? And economic ideology? And a specific manifesto relating to education, public health, transport and communication, banking & finance, industry and commerce, law making, defence, government finance, foreign policy,national heritage etc.

George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote:

15/12/2009

Buddha bless Khin Yi and whoever ordered him to Daw Suu's home to convey the good tidings.
As a Buddhist, I applaud this gesture as very sensible and a meritorious act as well.
After all, the top dog in green (uniform) also is nearing his 80's and it is high time he knows that nothing is permanent, much less stable, as Lord Buddha said.
Than Shwe is a Friday-born, if I am not mistaken. His inherent good and kind heart drove him to take this step finally.
Unmistakenly, his wife exploited his position and standing to amass such wealth. And his brat of a grandson gave him headaches as well,, no doubt.
Like Daw Suu wrote, power corrupted him and fear of his wife and losing his power and ill-gotten wealth drove him to extremes like today.
Hence, the best bet for him at this juncture is to let go of his fear and face the consequences bravely.
I guarantee he will not regret it.
And he can even claim his place in history as a true soldier and gentleman, rather than an outlaw and outcast, like today.