Below is an article published by Irrawaddy News

In recent weeks, the government of President Thein Sein has appeared to take a softer stance toward Suu Kyi, at a time when fighting in predominantly ethnic areas continues to heat up after a series of clashes between Burmese forces and former ceasefire groups. 

Over the weekend, Suu Kyi made her first visit to Burma's new capital, Naypyidaw, where she met with Thein Sein, who formed a new government in March following last year's widely criticized election.

Suu Kyi, who also made an appearance at a government-sponsored economic workshop during her trip to Naypyidaw, emerged from her first encounter with Thein Sein saying she was “happy and satisfied” with her meeting with the president and other officials.

Before this trip, she met with Minister of Labor Aung Kyi and was allowed to travel twice outside of Rangoon, to the ancient capital of Pagan and to Pegu.

Meanwhile, last week Thein Sein made a public statement suggesting exiled dissidents could be permitted to return to Burma and form new organizations.

Several ethnic leaders have cautiously welcomed these developments as signs of a possible thaw in the decades-old enmity between pro-democracy forces and Burma's military rulers, but many are also concerned that it could lead to ethnic issues once again being pushed aside by other priorities.  

La Nan, the joint secretary of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), said the government appears to be trying to separate Suu Kyi from her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), as well as from her supporters and ethnic minority groups.

He also described the recent moves, including the offer to allow exiled dissidents to return to Burma,  as a “smokescreen,” since there has been no evidence of real change on the ground.

“So far, they [the government] have said nothing about releasing political prisoners and ethnic leaders. This is something we really need to keep in mind,” said La Nan.

Despite his misgivings, however, he added that he didn't think Suu Kyi would simply allow herself to be used by the government. Instead, he said, she would find her own way to cooperate.

He also noted that the current situation is like a reversal of the government policy of the 1990s, when the junta that installed itself in power in 1988 sidelined Suu Kyi but signed ceasefire agreements with 17 ethnic armed groups, including the KIO.

“Now it is like they only want to deal with the opposition, while they keep the ethnic armed groups on the sidelines,” he said.

As in the past, however, the government seems determined to deal with ethnic armed groups on a one-by-one basis, refusing to respond to demands for a nationwide ceasefire and negotiations with the  recently formed ethnic alliance, the United Nationalities Federal Union (UNFC).

Nai Hang Thar, the secretary of the UNFC and the New Mon State Pary, said that the government's recent actions are nothing new.

“It is our experience that when they open one front line, they try to stop fighting on another. So while they are attacking the ethnic armed groups, they are avoiding trouble with the opposition groups,” he said.

Khu Oo Reh, the secretary of the Karenni National Progressive Party, said ethnic minorities have always been marginalized by mainstream politics.

“The government never considers giving ethnic minorities a chance to participate in politics at the national level. We need justice and equality in politics,” he said.

Naw Zipporah Sein, the general secretary of the Karen National Union, echoed this sentiment, saying that Burma's ethnic divisions are too deeply rooted to simply be forgotten.

“There will be no real change if the government only focuses on mainstream politics and ignores the ethnic groups. Change will only come with the involvement of all ethnic minorities,” she said.