The detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Ki has met with western diplomats today – the first contact of this kind in over six years. The Nobel peace laureate discussed the sanctions imposed against her country – the meeting has raised speculation she could be granted an audience with the head of the military regime, General Tan Schwe.

Listen to Debbie Stoddard from the Alternative Asean Network on Burma

Political impasse
The 64-year-old Suu Ki met the heads of the US, UK and Australian embassies in Yangon for an hour at a government guesthouse. She had written to General Schwe asking for permission to hold the talks, suggesting that she may be able to help resolve the political impasse with the west. But Debbie Stoddard, from the Alternative Asean Network on Burma, told Radio Netherlands we shouldn’t over estimate the significance of the meetings.

“It is a sign of how bad the situation is if we get excited that Aung San Suu Ki is allowed to meet with diplomats, because meeting with diplomats should be a matter of course for most leaders of the democracy movement.

“What we should be aiming for is not just looking at this meeting, but to go beyond. She should be allowed freedom of movement and freedom to communicate to whomever she likes.”

Slow progress
Su Ki’s lawyer said he was pleased the authorities had granted her request and pro-Burma organisations have welcomed this small slice of progress. Hans Niuewenhuisen from the Burma Centre in the Netherlands, said: “She’s been out of touch with any people other than her housemate for many years. Recently she’s been talking more with local government people and now she’s offered to open discussions on sanctions. It’s very hopeful that she’s allowed to debate with Western diplomats.”

The White House recently relaxed its policy towards Myanmar, holding its highest level talks with the junta in more than a decade and a senior official – possibly Prime Minister Thein Sein – is expected to attend talks hosted by US President Barack Obama in Singapore next month.

Sanctions unlikely to be lifted
But Washington has ruled out lifting economic sanctions against the regime unless it shows progress towards democracy and releases Suu Ki. And Debbie Stoddard said today the change in the US’s attitude to the country could actually be a bad thing for the opposition leader.

“It’s important to note that Aung San Suu Ki was attacked and detained in 2003 because the international community relaxed its position towards the military junta. In fact it subjected her to a bogus trial earlier this year because they saw the European Union as relaxing its policy on Burma.

What we really need to do is look at genuine outcomes rather than a few meetings here and there. The regime has played this game before several times. We need to see results before we start speculating.”