Exiled Burmese leader to meet Dermot Ahern

Burma’s exiled prime minister today continues his Irish visit with a scheduled meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern.

Dr Sein Win, who is a cousin of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is on an EU lobbying tour which also includes visits to Britain and France.

Dr Win is expected to discuss with Mr Ahern the Burmese regime’s crackdown on democracy protests in his native country.

The meeting is part of a series of engagements in both Dublin and Belfast.

Yesterday he met with a number of Dáil TDs and Senators.

Following the meeting in Iveagh House, Dr Win will travel to Belfast to meet members of the Northern Assembly and to address a public meeting in Queen’s University.

Dr Win was elected prime minister in 1990 following the formation of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) but was prevented from taking office by the Burmese military regime.

He is a brother of General Aung San, the architect of Burma’s independence and founder of the Burma Army.

The delegation also includes Burmese UN diplomat Dr Thaung Htun.

Dr Win was invited by lobby group Burma Action Ireland, which has been raising awareness of the country’s plight since 1996.