US President Barack Obama to Meet Myanmar's Military Leaders

The Prime Minister of Myanmar Thein Sein and US President Barack Obama may hold a dialogue on democratic reforms in Myanmar during the APEC meeting in Singapore next week where the two heads of State will participate.

US President Barack Obama will possibly meet with the leaders of Myanmar's military junta during the APEC meeting to be held in Singapore on November 15. Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein is expected to attend the meeting along with his delegation. Myanmar's military junta leader Than Shwe does not normally attend meetings outside of Myanmar. The talks will be first in 20 years between the US and the military led Myanmar government. President Obama is trying to engage Myanmar's military rulers in a diplomatic talks rather than the hardline approach that prevailed during the Bush presidency. Philstar.com reports:

ASEAN has faced a barrage of criticism in past years over its failure to coax democratic reforms from the junta or to win freedom for detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and some 2,000 other political prisoners.

Despite the the diplomatic approach being exercised by Obama, the US government says that tough sanctions against the junta will remain until talks result in democratic reforms. Top Myanmar freedom fighter Ang Sang Suu Kyi has fought the military rulers of Myanmar for over two decades but she ended in prison together with some 2,000 freedom fighters during the election held two decades ago when the Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi won but was never allowed to rule by the military Junta. Suu Kyi is serving an extended prison term possibly aimed at preventing her from participating in next Myanmar's elections.