Obama holds talks with Myanmar democracy champion Suu Kyi
Yangon, Myanmar | AFP |

YANGOON: -- US President Barack Obama began talks Friday with Myanmar's democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi, in a show of support for the opposition leader as the nation turns towards elections next year with uncertainty over the direction of reforms.

Obama met fellow Nobel laureate Suu Kyi at her lakeside villa in Myanmar's commercial capital Yangon, after arriving from the capital Naypyidaw where he discussed the nation's troubled reform process with President Thein Sein.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party is widely expected to sweep polls in late 2015, but its figurehead is banned from the presidency by a constitutional clause.

Obama and Suu Kyi are due to hold a press conference after their talks in the garden of her villa in a reprise of their landmark meeting in 2012 which saw the US leader throw his political might behind Myanmar's transition from junta rule.

After talks with his counterpart Thein Sein late Thursday Obama expressed cautious optimism hope for the once-cloistered nation that balanced out earlier warnings on the risks of "backsliding" on the transition.

"The democratic process in Myanmar is real," Obama said.

"We recognise change is hard and you do not always move in a straight line but I'm optimistic."

During his two-night trip to Myanmar the US leader has also raised alarm over the direction of reforms, however, citing the cramping of freedom of expression, ongoing conflicts and the treatment of Myanmar's minority groups -- especially the Muslim Rohingya.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-11-14

An off-topic post has been removed.

Tony Abbott met her as well ... she visibly flinched when he looked at her and snatched her hand from his overly long hand-shake ... (he's a cretin)

We'll see how the NLD actually does in 2015. Last time I went to Myanmar, it seemed that only old folks still had a thing for them and ASSK. The younger folks (who make up most of the country now) seemed to feel she (and they) were well past their best-used-by-dates and not really relevant today.

But what do I know...

Did obama wear that ridiculous Chairman Mao looking smock as he did in China?

Another off topic post removed. Please stick to sensible & relevant replies thanks.

On another note, I saw the BBC news story at her house in Yangon when she and Obama came out to hold a press conference. She was rather positive & conciliatory given she has always said the sanctions against Myanmar were removed too early.

He,s not fit to be in the same room ! This glib flake should not be telling Burma how to run their affairs, especially since they are going down the tubes themselves due to complete lack of competent leadership.