Malaysia PM visits Myanmar amid hopes for dialog<\/p>\n
YANGON (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
\nbegan a week-long working visit to Myanmar on Wednesday, raising
\nhopes he could help broker dialogue between the military
\ngovernment and its pro-democracy opposition.<\/p>\n
Mahathir was due to meet Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of
\nthe ruling State Peace and Development Council, on Wednesday
\nafternoon, before attending an official dinner.<\/p>\n
But foreign ministry officials in Yangon said no meeting with
\nAung San Suu Kyi, head of the opposition National League for
\nDemocracy (NLD), had been scheduled.<\/p>\n
Suu Kyi, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, has been
\nheld in de facto house arrest since September as part of a
\ncrackdown on the NLD, which won elections by a landslide in 1990
\nbut has never been allowed to govern.<\/p>\n
Myanmar's government has faced international condemnation for
\nits treatment of Suu Kyi and the NLD. But Malaysia has been one
\nof its strongest allies, insisting that the government should be
\nleft to resolve the political deadlock without external
\nintervention.<\/p>\n
Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail, the UN's special envoy to
\nMyanmar, is also set to visit the country from Jan. 5 to 9.
\nSpeculation has been mounting in Yangon that the restrictions on
\nSuu Kyi may be lifted during the visit of Mahathir and Razali,
\nbut nothing has been announced.<\/p>\n
It is Razali's third visit to Myanmar. In October, he held
\ntalks with senior government officials and met Suu Kyi. He is the
\nonly diplomat to be allowed access to Suu Kyi since she was
\nconfined to her house.<\/p>\n
Thailand's the Nation daily said in an editorial Mahathir's
\nvisit was an opportunity to break the political deadlock in
\nMyanmar.<\/p>\n
\"His visit is significant because it comes amid the ongoing UN
\nefforts at reconciliation, led by his countryman, Razali Ismail,\"
\nthe newspaper said.<\/p>\n
\"It is irreversible that Burma (Myanmar) must change to move
\nahead with the world of the 21st century. This will be the best
\ntime to do so. With Mahathir's personal assistance and risk-
\ntaking, this is a great opportunity for Burma to change.\"<\/p>\n
Myanmar was controversially admitted to the Association of
\nSouth East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997.<\/p>\n
Some ASEAN countries, in particular Thailand, are increasingly
\nfrustrated with the political isolation that Myanmar's membership
\nhas imposed on the bloc, and are pressing for external mediation.<\/p>\n
But Malaysia has been a staunch defender of ASEAN's code of
\nnon-interference in the internal affairs of other members.<\/p>\n
As well as Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, ASEAN groups
\nBrunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore and
\nVietnam.<\/p>\n
Mahathir is scheduled to visit several islands off the Myanmar
\ncoast from Thursday until Jan. 9, when he returns to Malaysia.<\/p>",
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