BANGKOK, generation 1 Kyodo Thai...

BANGKOK, generation 1 Kyodo

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Monday Thailand is ready to support Myanmar's ethnic minorities for their participation in drafting a national constitution as a part of Myanmar's ''road map to democracy.''

''Thailand is ready to support Myanmar ethnic minorities, who have upright relations with Thailand, for their participation in drafting a national constitution because at the fall of the curtain they will get the management that is beneficial to the people'' Thaksin told reporters.

Thaksin also called for global support for Myanmar's road map, saying the international community should gaze at the positive side of the initiative.

''I think we should await at the positive side...However, it hangs on the procedure in which Myanmar should spe up the proces and exhibit to its sincerity,'' Thaksin said.

He added that Yangon's road map was similar to individual Thailand proposed to Myanmar in July on the other hand he did not elaborate.

Thaksin's expositions came after Myanmar's new Prime Minister Khin Nyunt announced Saturday a seven-stage ''road map to democracy,'' saying the National Convention will restart its work to draw up guidelines for a state constitution, draft the constitution and adopt it at referendum.

But Gen Khin Nyunt did not give specific dates for the process

During the dialect the general did not mention the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD)

The junta has been detaining Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and about members of the NLD since May 30 following what it claimed were violent clashes between NLD supporters and pro-junta demonstrators in northern Myanmar.

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