Suu Kyi Readies for Second Trip to Naypyidaw

Suu Kyi Readies for Second Trip to Naypyidaw
WAI MOE, THE IRRAWADDY , December 22, 2011

Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will travel for the second time to the remote Burmese capital of Naypyidaw on Friday morning to register her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), at the Union Election Commission where she is likely to meet several top government officials.

“Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party will fly to Naypyidaw tomorrow morning,” said Khun Thar Myint, one of Suu Kyi’s aides, speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday. However, he declined to provide an itinerary of Suu Kyi’s schedule. “She will be accompanied by [NLD leaders] U Tin Oo, U Nyan Win and U Win Myint, and other aides.”

Although there has been no official announcement, several journalists and political sources in Rangoon said they had heard that Suu Kyi is to meet Lower House Speaker ex-Gen Shwe Mann and Election Commission Chairman Lt-Gen Tin Aung while in the capital.

But it is uncertain whether she will meet President Thein Sein as he has already scheduled a trip, Khun Thar Myint said.

Suu Kyi's first trip to Naypyidaw was in August when she was invited to attend a government economic workshop. She met and held her first talks with Thein Sein at the presidential palace. They reportedly discussed the political situation in Burma and national conciliation.

After meetings with Thein Sein and other ministers in Naypyidaw on August 19-20, Suu Kyi said she was “satisfied.”

Following those positive first steps between the government and the country's main opposition leader, the Parliament amended the Political Party Registration Law, effectively allowing the NLD to register again as a legal party and opening the way for it to contest by-elections next year.

On Monday, the NLD leadership elected Suu Kyi as the deputy leader of the NLD, and her close aide, Tin Oo, as the leader when they register the party formally.

Meanwhile, the NLD says it plans to publish a journal which it will call The Wave in the near future—assuming the party's registration is approved by the Election Commission.

“Since we have decided to register, we will utilize any privileges that a party has,” said Ohn Kyaing, an NLD spokesman and veteran journalist who will likely head the party journal. “Publishing information about the party is essential for our supporters and the public.”