US envoy to meet Aung San Suu Kyi

YANGON - US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is scheduled to meet with Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other opposition politicians during a two-day visit to Myanmar, officials said Saturday.

“Campbell will visit here May 9-10 and he will meet both senior officials from government and opposition,” an official who requested anonymity told DPA.

The envoy is scheduled to meet Suu Kyi and other politicians in Yangon Sunday, the official said.

Suu Kyi is serving an 18-month house arrest sentence which has barred her from contesting a general election planned this year.

Her National League for Democracy (NLD) has decided not to contest the polls, because it would have been forced to expel Suu Kyi in order to register.

A new electoral adopted in March stipulates that people serving jail terms may not be members of political parties. The NLD was officially dissolved May 6, the last day for registering old parties.

Campbell, who is reportedly visiting Myanmar to assess the election, is to fly to the capital Naypyitaw Sunday and return to Yangon Monday.

He is scheduled to hold talks with Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win, Information Minister Kyaw Hsan and other high-ranking officials, but is unlikely to meet with junta chief Senior General Than Shwe, sources said.

Campbell last visited Myanmar in November, marking a shift in US policy by US President Barrack Obama. Previous US administrations did not have high-level contacts with Myanmar.