Yangon, Aug 31: Myanmar's newly appointed Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt made no offers to hold talks with Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as he unveiled a road map to national elections, delegates present during the announcement said today. Speaking at Parliament House, Khin Nyunt yesterday said that long-suspended work on a draft constitution would resume, paving the way for "free and fair" elections and a new government. But he gave no timetable for the process.

The speech made no mention of a resumption of dialogue with Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, and several delegates, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Khin Nyunt did not mention such a possibility in any informal remarks.

Some news reports had said Khin Nyunt promised fresh talks with the NLD on the new constitution.
The senior leadership of the NLD was not available for comment since all are under military detention, including 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi.

Discussing the speech today in Yangon tea houses, a number of residents privately expressed disappointment that no timetable was offered and that Suu Kyi was not included in the political plan. Some said the speech was designed to "hoodwink" the international community into believing that the military regime was softening its hardline stance.

In a one-and-a-half hour speech the Prime Minister and military intelligence chief lashed out at Suu Kyi as well as western nations, blaming both for blocking progress toward a democratic nation.
"Because of this, democracy which was almost at hand, has become distant again," he said.

Bureau Report