Some believe that Than Shwe continues to wield great influence over major decisions and there is reportedly a hard-line faction throwing obstacles in Thein Sein’s path and resisting reforms.
In any event, the ultimate authority on anything related to national security—which in Burma means almost everything—rests with the 11-member National Defense and Security Council (NDSC). But in Thein Sein’s defense, his aides have said that the president has advocated the reform process in NDSC meetings and has made the final decision on many important issues.
A loyal army man who has always known his place, Thein Sein is now also in a position to look outside the military for support in achieving his goals.
Former army officer Ko Ko Hlaing said: “He is polite and likes to keep a low-profile. He never wants personal popularity and is a bit media-shy and not fit to be a populist politician. But his honesty and sincerity could attract public sympathy.”
The most significant member of the public who has attested to Thein Sein’s honesty and sincerity is none other than Burma’s pro-democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, who was placed under house arrest by the previous regime for more than 16 of the 22 years it held power.
Thein Sein reached out to Suu Kyi when he invited her to a private meeting in Naypyidaw in August, and it soon became clear that the president wanted the opposition leader to participate in Burma’s formal political process to give the new government credibility and legitimacy.
He succeeded in this endeavor when Suu Kyi agreed in November to register her National League for Democracy as a political party and compete in the coming by-elections.