Thein Sein: the quiet junta insider who opened Myanmar to the world

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: When he became Myanmar’s leader five years ago Thein Sein was dismissed as a junta stooge -- but as he prepares to hand power to Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, the taciturn ex-general can also claim credit for steering a peaceful political transition that has stunned the world.

President Thein Sein, who spent almost half a century climbing the military’s ranks, will make way on Wednesday for Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy and her proxy President Htin Kyaw.