Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was granted a rare meeting yesterday with top Western diplomats to discuss sanctions imposed on the military-ruled nation.
The Nobel Laureate met the heads of the US, UK and Australian embassies in Yangon for an hour at a government guesthouse, following a request in a letter she wrote to the junta chief, US embassy spokesman Drake Weisert said.
“We can confirm that sanctions were discussed at the meeting. However, we do not want to pre-empt Aung San Suu Kyi’s discussions with the authorities by discussing the details of the meeting,” Weisert said.
Suu Kyi’s correspondence with Senior General Than Shwe, which offered suggestions on getting Western sanctions lifted, marked an easing of her stance after years of advocating punitive measures against the ruling generals.
Her lawyer Nyan Win said she “wanted to get the facts and figures on Western sanctions” at the diplomat talks.
“The authorities allowing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s request is good — she is getting what she needs,” he said.
“We are hoping that the senior general and Aung San Suu Kyi will meet soon,” Nyan Win said, adding that meeting with diplomats meant she “could get chances” to become more involved in politics.
A statement from Australia’s department of foreign affairs and trade said the meeting was a “positive step by both the Burmese authorities and Aung San Suu Kyi.”
“The government hopes that this constructive meeting may lay the groundwork for further contact,” it said, adding that Suu Kyi appeared in “good health.”
Myanmar officials were present at the talks, the statement added.
In the past week, Suu Kyi has also had two meetings with Myanmar Minister Aung Kyi, the official liaison between herself and the junta — the first time they have met for talks since January last year.
State media reported on Sunday that they discussed her letter at the first meeting, but further details of the talks have not yet emerged.
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