The Asean summit will be the first occasion the Burmese junta’s Prime Minister, Thein Sein, can meet exile Burmese CSOs [Civil Society Organizations]. Thein Sein will meet with nine other Asean leaders on October 23.

Thein Sein threatened to boycott the last Asean meeting if Thailand proposed Burmese exile groups have a representative at the Asean summit in February.

– Extracted from Lawi Weng, “Exile Groups to be Present at Asean Meet”, The Irrawaddy, 20 October 2009. Thanks to Dave for pointing out this intriguing article.