Burma opposition to boycott talks | BBC

Burma opposition to boycott talks


Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in a
military crackdown nearly a year ago

Burma's main opposition party says it will boycott next week's landmark constitutional convention organised by the military government.

The National League for Democracy said it took the decision after the government refused to free Aung San Suu Kyi, currently under house arrest.

The constitutional convention is planned for 17 May, with Friday being the deadline for the NLD to register.

The junta portrays the talks as the first step in a roadmap to democracy.

"The government refused to agree to our demands to release Aung San Suu Kyi and (NLD vice chairman) Tin Oo," the NLD's chairman, Aung Shwe told reporters in the capital, Rangoon.

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