Cameron in Burma for historic visit
British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Burma today in what is believed to be the first visit to the former colony by a British prime minister.
Mr Cameron met President Thein Sein to congratulate him on pushing through democratic reforms.
During his historic visit, Mr Cameron is ready to signal the easing of sanctions against the country as he delivers a message of support to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in person.
Speaking on the tarmac as he arrived in the new capital Naypyidaw, Mr Cameron said: ``This country really matters. For decades it has suffered under a brutal dictatorship. It is also desperately poor. It doesn't have to be this way.
“There is a government now that says it is committed to reform, that has started to take steps, and I think it is right to encourage those steps.”
During their meeting Mr Thien told the PM through a translator: “This visit of your excellency is significant and historical in our bilateral relations.”
The president went on: “We are very encouraged and we are most appreciative of your kind acknowledgement towards Myanmar.”
Mr Cameron also said he wanted to meet Ms Suu Kyi, describing her as “a shining example for people who yearn for freedom, for democracy, for progress”.
He added: “We should be under no illusion about what a long way there is to go.”
He said the government had to demonstrate that moves to democracy were “irreversible”.
At a joint press conference earlier in Mr Cameron’s trip to south Asia, Malaysian prime minister Najib Tun Razak urged his counterpart to relax sanctions.
Mr Najib, who recently held talks with Mr Thein in Burma, said: “I really do believe first of all that he is sincere.
“This has been supported by Aung San Suu Kyi’s own personal remarks about him.”
He said sanctions should be eased quickly in order to shore up the president’s popularity.
“We need to support a man like President Thein Sein so he will be supported by the community, because there will be elements who want to take a much more conservative approach,” Mr Najib added.
Mr Cameron said developments in Burma may be “one potential chapter of light” in a “world where there are many dark chapters in history being written”.
“Of course we should be sceptical. Of course we should be questioning. Of course we shouldn’t be naive,” he said.
But he added: “Aung San Suu Kyi herself, who has spent so many years in such a long, lonely but powerful struggle, believes that he is acting in good faith.”
Britain had played a “leading role” in the imposition of sanctions, and would also not be “backwards” in responding to positive changes, he added.
