Junta urged to boost dialog

Junta urged to boost dialog

YANGON (AFP): A group of former National League for Democracy (NLD) members appealed on Sunday to Myanmar's ruling junta to step up its dialog with opposition parties.

In a letter sent to top members of the junta, the former members, who were kicked out of the NLD for developing too close ties to the government, warned that without dialog, the nation's development will remain stalled.

"We urge that the military authorities as well as all legitimate political parties get together to discuss relevant matters relating to the 1990 general election or start the process of constitutional drafting," the letter said.

The NLD won the 1990 election by an overwhelming margin but the junta nullified the results and retained its tight grip on power.

In the letter, the former NLD members also offered their services as potential middlemen who were familiar with the positions of the both the government and the opposition.