Suu Kyi friend gets job as Myanmar president’s adviser

Saturday, 30 April 2011 01:26

YANGON: A friend of Aung San Suu Kyi has been appointed as an adviser to Myanmar’s president, he said vowing to aid “co-operation” between the democracy icon and the government.

U Myint, one of nine experts in economics, politics and law appointed earlier this month, opposes sanctions on the military-dominated country in line with the views of its rulers.

The 73-year-old believes that Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi still has a “beneficial” role to play in the country’s economy, but said she should perform that role outside the political sphere.

He said he would not become a “mediator” in talks between Suu Kyi and the government, but added: “There could be a way for them to work together on the economy. I will try for their co-operation in this area.”

U Myint appeared at a ceremony held by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy in December.

But a controversial November election -- which led a new nominally-civilian government to take power last month -- and Suu Kyi’s subsequent release from house arrest have reignited a debate about the measures. AFP