Suu Kyi holds secret dialogue with ex-junta leader over transition of power

(THEASAHISHIMBUN)AungSanSuuKyimetsecretlywiththeex-juntaleaderapparentlytoensureasmoothtransitionofpowerfollowingherpro-

democracyoppositionparty'slandslidewinlastmonthinMyanmar’sparliamentaryelections,sourcessaid.

ThetalksbetweenSuuKyiandThanShwetookplaceinNaypyidaw,thecapitalofMyanmar,onDec.4,accordingtothesources.

Itwasreportedlytheirfirstmeetingsince2002.

ThanShweisbelievedtostillwieldacertaininfluenceonthecurrentgovernmentledbyPresidentTheinSein,aformergeneral,andMyanmar’smilitary.

Atthetalks,ThanShwe,whoisinhis80s,mayhaveaskedhertoguaranteehisandhisfamily’ssafety,accordingtolocalmediareports.

Theformerstrongmanruledthemilitaryregimefrom1992to2011,theyearpowerwastransferredtoTheinSein’squasi-civiliangovernment.

WhileThanShweruled,hecrackeddownonpro-democracyforces,includingSuuKyiandherNationalLeagueforDemocracy(NLD).Shewaskeptunderhousearrestforatotalof15yearsbythemilitaryregimebeforefinallybeingreleasedin2010.

SuuKyi,however,hasrepeatedlycalledforreconciliationwiththeformerdictator,sayingthatsheharborsnogrudgesoverthesuppression.

SuuKyialsohadasecretdialoguewithThanShwe'sgrandchildatherhomeinNaypyidawonNov.19,afterherNLDcapturedamajorityinthe664-member,two-houseparliament.

ShealsometwithTheinSeinandSeniorGeneralMinAungHlaingonDec.2,securingtheircooperationoverapeacefultransitionofpower.

ThemeetingswereheldinlinewithThanShwe'swishes,accordingtosources.