Myanmar democracy group offers alternative

JAKARTA, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- The Myanmar government-in-exile says if the ruling military junta does not accept its proposals, reformers will not participate in next year's elections.

The "Proposal for National Reconciliation," announced at the group's meeting in Jakarta, calls for the immediate release of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, a nationwide cease-fire with rebel groups and a review of the 2008 constitution, the Voice of America reported.

The Jakarta meeting went as planned despite earlier objections from the Indonesian government. Both Indonesia and Myanmar, formerly called Burma, are members of the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations.

A Myanmar military court sentenced Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest, to another 18 months of detention.

Myanmar's Prime Minister in Exile Sein Winn told VOA his government's demands must be met and a dialogue started before elections, which the military junta has set for next year.

"This election is tied to the constitution. And this constitution making process as well as the results are so biased and screwed (up) that according to this constitution, we will never get democracy," he said.

Sein Winn told VOA his group will not participate in the elections if its demands are not met.

"No, no, we will not participate as it is," he said. "That is why we are saying we have to review the constitution; you have to release the political prisoners. This is the bottom line."