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"Hence, the NLD has announced it will call a parliament consisting of ethnic and elected representatives in the near future," the statement said.

Junta opposes convening parliament

One day before the NLD’s deadline for the military to convene the country’s elected parliament, the military said it has no intention of meeting its demand.

"The question is how does one call a parliament if there exists no constitution," said a government spokesman, on condition of anonymity. "The demand to convene one sounds like forcing a bald person to dye his hair."

Burma’s junta also said the opposition NLD's decision to convene its own parliament was illegal.

"Such a move by any individual political party would be in contravention of Myanmar law and seems designed to derail the ongoing discussions between the government and the NLD," a junta spokesman said in a statement.

Thai & U.S reaction to August 21

Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhum-bhand Paribatra said Thailand was closely watching the standoff between Suu Kyi and the military. Thailand called for dialogue between Burma’s military government and the opposition. "The Thai government is giving moral support to all factions — both to the Myanmar government and the NLD — and we are continuously supporting efforts for dialogue without pre-conditions," Sukhumbhand said.

In a statement, US Department of State Acting Spokesman James B. Foley said that "we deeply regret the Burmese government’s rejection of this historic opportunity to respond to the NLD’s call."

Foley stated that the solution to Burma’s political impasse can only be achieved through a "meaningful dialogue between the government and the representatives of the Burmese people."

Newspaper calls for deportation of Suu Kyi

A state-run newspaper said opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi should be expelled from Burma and her NLD banned, as the military refused to meet the party’s demand to convene parliament.

"The NLD has broken many existing laws, therefore the NLD should be declared illegal and she should be deported," the commentary in the state-run Mirror Daily said. "Only after she is deported can the government continue with its nation building task, the people can go about their business peacefully and the price of consumer goods can come down," it said.

Door closed on dialogue with Suu Kyi

SPDC spokesman Colonel Hla Min told foreign military attaches that it will neither allow the opposition to form a parliament nor talk to Aung San Suu Kyi.

In a meeting with 15 military attaches, the ruling SPDC argued that Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, the party’s vice chairman, had been officially stripped of their posts in 1990.

"The bottom-line is that the door is closed for dialogue between Suu Kyi and SPDC," said the diplomat.

"Activists" return home

Two leaders from the Burmese Association in Japan (BAIJ) surrendered their refugee status in Japan to return to Burma, stating they have witnessed a "positive and constructive change" in the current political situation.

BAIJ Chairperson Mya Mya Win and BAIJ General Secretary Dr.