No Objection To Parliament Bid

In another sign of rapprochement between the government and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's parliament chief Khin Aung Myint said Tuesday that he has no objections to her joining the legislature.

Linked to hardliners opposed to political reforms, Khin Aung Myint, a former senior official in the previous military junta, had kind words for Aung San Suu Kyi in a telephone interview with RFA.

"She is the daughter of General Aung San whom we all love," he said, referring to the assassinated Burmese independence hero. "She is welcome if she joins the parliament."

Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest when Burma held parliamentary elections in November 2010. She was released just days after the polls, which her National League for Democracy had boycotted. The party was then banned.

There had been speculations that the government could allow for a reregistration of the NLD, paving the way for Aung San Suu Kyi to contest in what could be by-elections for more than 40 constituencies in November.
  
Khin Aung Myint, who is the chairman of Union Parliament comprising both the lower and upper chambers, has been linked to a group of hardliners within the cabinet against reforms being introduced by the nominally civilian government led by President Thein Sein that could see greater political and economic freedom.

But he rejected any notion of a split within the government in the interview.

"It is not true," he said. "Burma is being run by an executive body [president and his cabinet]."

Public meetings

The government has allowed Aung San Suu Kyi to hold public meetings outside of Rangoon for the first time since her release from house arrest. She has also met with President Thein Sein recently.

But many experts believe the government should release the 2,000 odd political prisoners and forge peace with ethnic armed groups to underline its seriousness to embracing reforms and strengthening democracy.

Khin Aung Myint said there was no specific time frame for the release of political prisoners.

"Political prisoners can be released when security is insured," he said. "No government likes to put its citizens in jail."

On the prospect for negotiations for peace with ethnic armed groups in Burma's northeast region, he said, "Success is very possible."

"This is the government’s responsibility which will be carried out in consultation with the parliament.”

Reported by Kyaw Kyaw Aung for RFA’s Burmese service.  Translated by Kyaw Min Htun and Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai.