Burma opens up with first Press talks

Burma’s reformist president held his first press conference in a national milestone after years of secrecy and censorship by the former military regime.

Thein Sein answered about 30 questions from local Press and foreign correspondents on subjects ranging from fighting with ethnic rebels in the north to amending the country’s military-fashioned constitution.

His mere appearance, however, reflects his country’s turn from secrecy and paranoia to relative openness and the conference in the capital, Naypyitaw, ran 20 minutes past its scheduled two-hour length.

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The 67-year-old ex-general, who had been prime minister under the ruling junta, first looked tense but soon relaxed enough to reveal a little-known sense of humour.

He said that after surviving the BBC Hardtalk programme normal media held few terrors for him. But he also feared he would also be criticised if he did not talk at home after interviews abroad.