Thein Sein waives US trip to monitor sensitive transition, says Ye Htut

Thein Sein waives US trip to monitor sensitive transition, says Ye Htut



YANGON: -- Myanmar President Thein Sein cancelled a planned trip to attend the US-Asean summit being held in California this week due to the delicate nature of the country’s political transition, The Irrawaddy reported.

On Feb 11, the president’s office announced that vice president Nyan Tun would attend the Feb 15-16 summit in place of Thein Sein, giving no reason for the outgoing president’s abrupt change of plans.

In an interview on Saturday, presidential spokesman Ye Htut referred to speculation of instability during the current handover, with the new government’s term set to begin on April 1.

The spokesperson, who is also information minister, did not elaborate on the potential instability but said, “in case something bad happens, [the president] has to be here to make important decisions.”

“It is more important for him to be here than in California to attend the summit. That’s why he decided not to join the meeting,” Ye Htut said.

“Something could happen in the country. I’m not saying anything will happen exactly. But as the head of state… he thought it would be better for him to be here rather than in California.”

Thein Sein’s last minute cancellation comes as uncertainty continues to shroud reported negotiations between the military and the National League for Democracy (NLD) over the presidency.

With Aung San Suu Kyi constitutionally barred from the position, speculation has centered on whether the clause could be sidestepped, with the consent of the military, to allow the NLD leader to formally lead the country.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/151118


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-16