Burma political situation a work-in-progress: US Special envoy

The United States Special Envoy and Policy Coordinator for Burma, Derek Mitchell sees the current Burma political situation as a work-in-progress, according to the National League for Democracy.

NLD spokesman U Ohn Kyaing said that Mr. Mitchell made that statement after meeting with members of NLD central executive committee and the Committee Representing People’s Parliament at Aung San Suu Kyi’s house in Rangoon.

“Derek Mitchell said that he sees that Burma political situation is in progress and he believes that Burma will soon have a new positive result.”

U Ohn Kyaing also mentioned that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told the media after her meeting with the Special Envoy that if there is genuine change in Burma, there will be support from United States for education and health.

Saw Hla Ngwe, the joint secretary of the Karen National Union told Karen News that Mr. Mitchell’s views are premature considering the current political and military situation in ethnic states.

“The attacks by government troops in Kachin, Shan and Karen areas is on-going and there has not been any release of [2,200] political prisoners, so for us, we can’t say the political situation in Burma is progressing.”

Envoy Mitchell and Aung San Suu Kyi’s meeting was later joined by NLD and CRPP high ranking officials, these included, the NLD vice-chairman, U Tin Oo, NLD members U Win Tin, U Than Tun, U Hla Pe, U Nyan Win, U Han Tha Myint, U Win Myint and Daw May Win Myint and, U Aye Tha Aung, Pu Kyint Shin Tan and U Soe Win from the CRPP.

The US Special Envoy met privately for 40 minutes with Ms Suu Kyi before opening the meeting to the NLD and CRPP officials for another hour.

He arrived in Burma on September 9 and to have meetings with Burma’s foreign minister, U Wanna Maung Lwin and Chairman of the National Parliament and other MPs.

On September 11, Mr Mitchell, the US special envoy, visited the Free Funeral Service Society and met its founder the well-known actor, U Kyaw Thu. Mr Mitchell later visited an HIV/AIDS clinic run by the NLD in the South Dagon area in Rangoon.

The US government appointed Mr. Derek Mitchell as its Special Envoy and Policy Coordinator for Burma on June, 2011 and this is his first trip to Burma.