YANGON - MYANMAR'S opposition party yesterday welcomed dialogue between the military and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but resisted any preconditions for talks.
'Finding a solution through dialogue is the natural way to help the people and the country,' the National League for Democracy (NLD) said in a statement.
Last week, junta leader Than Shwe offered to meet Ms Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, but said any direct talks hinged on major conditions, including an end to her support for international sanctions on the country.
The regime has also said it wants 'smooth relations' with Ms Suu Kyi and tapped moderate General Aung Kyi to coordinate contacts with her. Those moves were seen as attempts to deflect international pressure over the junta's deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.
NLD spokesman Nyan Win said Gen Aung Kyi's appointment as a liaison was 'a good sign'.
'It is the way it should be,' he said. 'It shows they seem to have become a little more pragmatic.'
But the NLD, in its statement, rejected the military rulers' conditions for talks.
'The success of a dialogue is based on sincerity and the spirit of give-and-take,' the statement said.
'The will for achieving success is also crucial and there should not be any preconditions.'
The military had previously appointed other 'liaison officers' to deal with Ms Suu Kyi.
An editorial in Monday's state newspapers suggested that the release of Ms Suu Kyi, who has been detained for 12 of the past 18 years, was a dim and distant prospect. It said her release would be possible only after a new Constitution was in place, a process which could take years.
Given the frequency with which optimists have been proved wrong, other analysts cautioned against being too upbeat about Gen Aung Kyi's role.
'It's too early to assess this gambit by the regime,' said a retired professor in Yangon. 'It comes at a time of mounting pressure from the international community. We need to wait for further movement.'
Mr Win Min, a Thailand-based Myanmar analyst, said the junta's apparent willingness to talk with Ms Suu Kyi 'is a very clear indication that they are under extreme international pressure and domestic pressure to make some change'.
He added: 'They are very worried that the situation is going to deteriorate, even if they can control the demonstrations temporarily.'
Mr Trevor Wilson, a former Australian ambassador to Myanmar, said the offer of talks was a smart move by the junta.
'It's pragmatic of them because the very fact that they have meetings with her very occasionally gives the ordinary people a bit of hope and expectation that maybe they can reach a negotiated settlement, which many of the Burmese think would at this stage be the only way out,' he said.
