US urges Burma to engage opposition

Washington, Apr 28: The United States has urged the Burmese military government to reach out to its pro-democracy opposition, the National League for Democracy, after the junta threatened to dissolve the party.

A State Department spokesman yesterday said that it is imperative for the Burmese military government to engage democratic opposition groups in meaningful political dialogue.

He said the first positive step would be for the government to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and free other political prisoners in detention.

However, Burmese Information Minister Kyaw Hsan said a day earlier that the government had no plans for dialogue with the opposition.

He said the regime had enough evidence to declare the opposition an unlawful association for its links to what he called ''terrorist groups and exiled dissident organisations.'' The NLD last week said it would recognise the military government if it convenes parliament by May 27th. That date marks the anniversary of Burma's 1990 elections, in which the NLD won a majority of seats in parliament, but was not allowed to take power.

UNI