Myanmar ministers have robustly defended their government’s track record ahead of a meeting Saturday between US secretary of state John Kerry and Myanmar president Thein Sein.

Kerry is in Naypyitaw for meetings today and tomorrow with Asean foreign ministers and counterparts from Asean dialogue partners, including China, India and Australia.

He will also meet Myanmar’s influential speaker of parliament, Shwe Mann. On Sunday in Yangon, he will meet Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Secretary of State has come under pressure from some human rights groups as well as Republicans in the US Congress to roll back some of the red carpet the Barack Obama administration has extended to Myanmar’s government amid the three-year-old transition to democracy.

They have cited frequent violence against Muslims by right-wing Buddhists, which have left many dead and tens of thousands displaced, and a deteriorating media freedom climate.

They have also questioned the sincerity of the reform efforts of the still essentially military-backed government, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1645 HRS, AUG 09, 2014