RP, Myanmar leaders talk about opposition

RP, Myanmar leaders talk about opposition

MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Fidel Ramos and the chairman of Myanmar's ruling junta discussed the need for "reconciliation with opposition groups" during talks in Yangon, a presidential statement said here yesterday.

Ramos and Senior Gen. Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLROC), made the comments during a meeting at Myanmar's presidential palace Wednesday, the Manila statement said.

The Philippine leader was to end his landmark visit to Myanmar yesterday.

"A country cannot attain progress without peace and stability. This is why Myanmar places a high priority on peace with the armed groups and this need(s) patience and tolerance," it quoted Than Shwe as saying.

Ramos in turn "added that both (countries) have experienced the need for reconciliation with opposition groups," citing Manila's peace talks with Moslem separatist, rightist military coup plotters and communist insurgents.

Ramos congratulated Than Shwe for resuming the dialog with the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), saying this was "a very big step forward".

Than Shwe did not specify which opposition groups he was trying to forge peace with.

The Philippine statement said Ramos and Than Shwe discussed expanding bilateral ties, and assisting Myanmar in improving its human resources, including providing training for 60 Myanmar nationals.

The statement made no mention of Western concerns about Myanmar's human rights record or Ramos' earlier attempts to arrange a meeting with NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi during his visit to Yangon.

The NLD is Myanmar's leading political party. It swept the last elections in 1990. But the ruling SLORC ignored the result.