Questions as Thein Sein team meets minority groups

Representatives of the Karen, Kachin and Mon peoples voiced their concerns over alleged continuing human rights abuses by the military.
The allegations come despite the existence of ceasefire agreements.
The meeting was ordered by President Thein Sein following demonstrations during his visit to Australia, the first by a Myanmar head of state since 1974.
President Thein Sein's visit has been a diplomatic success but the differences between the government and the ethnic diaspora were on show at the Sydney meeting.

Progress to democracy

The president of the Australian Karen Association, Irwin Oo, later acknowleged the former Burma's progress toward democracy.
But his presentation centred on claims the 2011 ceasefire in Kachin state was breaking down.
"Why have they not declared a nationwide ceasefire? Why are they not getting a political solution? Instead they keep fighting with Kachin," Mr Oo said on Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program.
Seng Maw Laipai, from the Sydney Kachin community, said independent human rights reports have documented abuses against displaced Kachin.
"There is an obvious perspective of public relations that is going on," she told Radio Australia.
"For me ... to be able to believe what they are saying is difficult."
Fighting continued and international aid had been blocked to 100,000 displaced people inside the country, she said.
The deputy minister for information U Ye Htut, said the government is determined to entrench the peace process and will prosecute what he says are isolated instances of abuse.
President Thein Sein said his schedule would not allow him to meet the activists personally.