Myanmar President Thein Sein congratulated democratic champion Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday, as her party appeared to have trounced the ruling camp in the first free election in 25 years and inched towards an absolute majority in parliament.
Thein Sein reiterated that the government would accept the results of the election and agreed to Suu Kyi’s request to hold reconciliation talks soon, although the two are still to agree on the time and location of the negotiations.
Suu Kyi’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) has won over 80% of the seats declared so far in the lower house and is well ahead in the upper house and regional assemblies.
If the final results confirm the trend, Suu Kyi’s triumph will sweep out an old guard of former generals that has run Myanmar since the junta handed over power to Thein Sein’s semi-civilian government in 2011.
“Congratulations ... to the chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi and her party for gathering the support of the people,” read a statement posted on the Facebook page of the presidential spokesman.
“The government will respect and follow the people’s choice and decision, and work on transferring power peacefully according to the timetable,” said the statement, adding that the president would work with “all other people” to ensure stability in the post-election period.
Suu Kyi has also invited the powerful army chief to hold reconcilitation talks, but he has yet to respond to the letter.
The armed forces continue to wield considerable power in Myanmar’s political institutions, under a constitution drafted before the end of nearly 50 years of rule. It is unclear how Suu Kyi and the generals will work together.
“It is very important for the dignity of the country and to bring peace of mind to the people,” Suu Kyi said in the letter.
