More than a thousand people welcomed Burmese President Thein Sein upon
his return from the United States on Monday morning in a rare gesture of
popular support for a leading politician in the military-dominated nation.
“We love our president,” bellowed
the crowd outside Rangoon International Airport. Huge posters with the former
general’s image bearing the slogan “We support you! Congratulations, Mr.
President” were held by supporters
Those present included affluent
businessmen, members of political parties, garment factory workers and
students. Some estimated that as many as 2,000 people could have been among the
horde.
“We are glad that sanctions have
been lifted. Before, we could only export our products to our neighboring
countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam and so on,” said Dr. Aung
Win, deputy chairman of the Myanmar Garment Association.
“Now we in the textile industry
can export more to the United States too. That’s why we came here to welcome
the president.”
Aung Win said that he brought
around 300 garment factory workers to welcome Thein Sein, but that 10,000 or
20,000 people could easily have come.
During Thein Sein’s trip, which
started on Sept. 24, the Obama administration lifted import sanctions against
Burma as a reward for tentative democratic reforms since the 67-year-old took
office in March last year.
Opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi has also been traveling in the United States and backed Naypyidaw’s calls
for the lifting of the trade restrictions.
Maj Zaw Htay, the director of the
President’s Office, told The Irrawaddy on Monday afternoon that “the
president’s trip was a success.”
“The president got a chance to
explain the changes in our country in front of the international community,” he
said. “Our President’s Office was proud of his success.”
US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton announced the lifting of sanctions one day before Thein Sein addressed
the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday.
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