Malaysia PM visits Myanmar amid hopes for dialog

Malaysia PM visits Myanmar amid hopes for dialog

YANGON (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad began a week-long working visit to Myanmar on Wednesday, raising hopes he could help broker dialogue between the military government and its pro-democracy opposition.

Mahathir was due to meet Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, on Wednesday afternoon, before attending an official dinner.

But foreign ministry officials in Yangon said no meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, head of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), had been scheduled.

Suu Kyi, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, has been held in de facto house arrest since September as part of a crackdown on the NLD, which won elections by a landslide in 1990 but has never been allowed to govern.

Myanmar's government has faced international condemnation for its treatment of Suu Kyi and the NLD. But Malaysia has been one of its strongest allies, insisting that the government should be left to resolve the political deadlock without external intervention.

Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail, the UN's special envoy to Myanmar, is also set to visit the country from Jan. 5 to 9. Speculation has been mounting in Yangon that the restrictions on Suu Kyi may be lifted during the visit of Mahathir and Razali, but nothing has been announced.

It is Razali's third visit to Myanmar. In October, he held talks with senior government officials and met Suu Kyi. He is the only diplomat to be allowed access to Suu Kyi since she was confined to her house.

Thailand's the Nation daily said in an editorial Mahathir's visit was an opportunity to break the political deadlock in Myanmar.

"His visit is significant because it comes amid the ongoing UN efforts at reconciliation, led by his countryman, Razali Ismail," the newspaper said.

"It is irreversible that Burma (Myanmar) must change to move ahead with the world of the 21st century. This will be the best time to do so. With Mahathir's personal assistance and risk- taking, this is a great opportunity for Burma to change."

Myanmar was controversially admitted to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997.

Some ASEAN countries, in particular Thailand, are increasingly frustrated with the political isolation that Myanmar's membership has imposed on the bloc, and are pressing for external mediation.

But Malaysia has been a staunch defender of ASEAN's code of non-interference in the internal affairs of other members.

As well as Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

Mahathir is scheduled to visit several islands off the Myanmar coast from Thursday until Jan. 9, when he returns to Malaysia.