Burma's President in White House visit

(Vatican Radio) President Thein Sein of Burma is scheduled Monday to meet US President Barack Obama. The former General becomes the first Burmese president to be welcomed to the White House in almost 47 years. The visit marks a dramatic diplomatic rehabilitation for his nation, which is also known as Myanmar, after years of international isolation.
But activists are angry about President Obama hosting Thein Sein, and lawmakers are wary.
The Burma leader has led the shift from decades of direct military rule, but has stalled on some reform commitments and failed to stop bloody outbursts of ethnic violence.
Lydia O’Kane spoke to the Director of the Burma Campaign UK, Mark Farmaner who says the visit is pre-mature.
“We certainly feel that the reward of having President Thein Sein visiting President Obama is the White House is far too big at the present time given the limited nature of the reforms that have taken place.”
Ahead of the trip, Burma released at least 19 political prisoners in what has become a pattern for amnesties that coincide with high-profile international meetings as a way of highlighting the government's benevolent policies. Right groups say at least 160 political detainees are still held.Listen to Lydia O'Kane's interview with Mark Farmaner