Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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          Burma's President Opens US Visit with VOA Town Hall Meeting

   Burmese President Thien Sein opened a visit to Washington Sunday,
   joining a town hall meeting at the Voice of America to answer questions
   on human rights, economic development and foreign investment in his
   country.
   He told a group of about 30 Burmese living in the United States that
   the developement of democracy in his homeland must go hand in hand with
   economic development and that economic growth must come first.
   Ahead of Monday`s White House meeting with President Barack Obama,
   President Thien Sein described ethnic violence against minority Muslims
   in western Burma as criminal behavior as opposed to civil strife. He
   acknowledged some "heavy-handed" actions by police in their efforts to
   control political dissent in his country, and said both protesters and
   police must come to understand their responsibilities as democracy
   takes hold.
   Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch accused Burmese authorities of
   practicing ethnic cleansing against minority Rohingya Muslims, most of
   whom are denied Burmese citizenship and other basic rights. The New
   York-based group also accused the military of failing to stop the
   violence, and in some cases participating. Burmese authorities have
   repeatedly disputed those claims.
   A small group of protesters gathered outside VOA Sunday calling for
   minority rights in Burma.
   Washington has been re-engaging the Burmese government since Burma`s
   long-ruling military junta stepped aside in late 2010 and permitted
   democratic elections the following year.
   Mr. Thien Sein is the first Burmese leader to visit Washington in 47
   years. His visit comes six months after President Obama became the
   first sitting U.S. president to visit the Southeast Asia nation.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/burmas-president-opens-us-visit-with-
   voa-town-hall-meeting/1664170.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/burmas-president-opens-us-visit-with-voa-town-hall-meeting/1664170.html