Reformist President Thein Sein gave his first press conference to local media yesterday.

Speaking with local and international reporters in the capital Naypyidaw, Thein Sein was vague on questions on how to end Myanmar’s ethnic civil wars, dodged difficult questions about atrocities by the former military regime and said it was up to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi whether she would take a position in government.

Appearing “relaxed, cheerful and humble,” according to one journalist who took part in the press conference, Myanmar’s president admitted he used to fear journalists. But he added that if he could handle a grilling on the BBC’s HardTalk program earlier this year, he could handle anything.

“Like many government officials, I myself used to fear media. Now I have overcome it,” he said, urging other members of his administration to engage with the media.

Officials of the former military regime rarely spoke to the media in the past.

The junta censored material in the press, directly controlled all television programs and filtered online content but has since relaxed media controls following a landmark general election at the end of 2010 which led to Thein Sein taking power in March last year.

A journalist who attended the press conference yesterday said anonymously that the event was part of the government’s efforts to develop better relations with the media as it hopes to challenge Suu Kyi for popular support.

“We are a bit frustrated because the president did not answer any questions in a meaningful way,” said the journalist.

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