Wedding bridges Myanmar's political divide ( AFP ) October 27, 2002


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Wedding bridges Myanmar's political divide

YANGON, Oct 27 (AFP)

The son of an elected member of Myanmar's opposition party and the daughter of a recently retired senior military officer married here Sunday in a rare event bridging Myanmar's political divide.

Lieutenant Colonel Win Myint forbade the wedding during his military career but relented shortly after his retirement, family sources told AFP.

Aung Phone Myint, son of National League for Democracy (NLD) member Ne Win Myint, wed Ma Shwe Zin Win, the daughter of Win Myint.

Despite the wedding being allowed to take place, two separate receptions have been planned for later Sunday, with NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi and party members invited to attend one of them.

NLD member Ne Win Myint won a seat in the 1990 elections that were never recognised by the military.

Myanmar society shunned NLD members in fear of retaliation by the ruling military junta after the annulled elections, which were overwhelmingly won by the NLD. A wedding between members related to each side would have been unheard of.

Relations improved marginally when Suu Kyi and the junta began a landmark dialogue aimed at national reconciliation in October 2000, but there were few tangible results from the talks and relations between the two sides remain cool.

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