Burma’s main opposition National League for Democracy party, or NLD, on Thursday responded to a government invitation to attend its National Convention, due to be re-convened on May 17, by calling for the release of its secretary-general Aung San Suu Kyi.

Five NLD party executives, received invitation letters to the convention on Wednesday, party executive Nyunt Wei told The Irrawaddy today from Rangoon. But he said he has no idea whether or not the junta has also invited four executive members currently under house arrest.

NLD secretary-general Aung San Suu Kyi, chairman Aung Shwe, vice-chairman Tin Oo and secretary U Lwin have all been detained since a junta-orchestrated mob attack on a party convoy at Depayin, Sagaing Division last May.

The NLD released a statement on Thursday titled "Free Aung San Suu Kyi" which called for the immediate release of all four party executives in order that they may attend the National Convention.

Nyunt Wei read the statement on the phone: "We seek freedom for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for she has a duty to perform. She is a person accepted by all local and international bodies as one who could bring reconciliation to this country which needs a new constitution."

"Her freedom is needed today now more than ever before... We firmly believe that her release would demonstrate clearly to the international community that some change in the political climate in Myanmar (Burma) has taken place."

Regarding the invitation, Nyunt Wei said the NLD will not comment at the moment. He added that the NLD will decide whether or not to attend the convention only after all its nine central executive members, including the four detainees, can meet to discuss the matter.

Aung San Suu Kyi was not allowed to attend the previous convention, which kicked off in 1993 with 702 delegates, not only from political parties (86 NLD MPs attended), but other categories such as workers, peasants and technocrats. It was suspended in March 1996 after the NLD walked out declaring the proceedings undemocratic.

The reconvening of the National Convention marks the first of a seven-step road map to democracy announced by Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt in August last year.

Some of the 86 NLD MPs that attended the previous convention are known to have also received invitations. An elected member who requested anonymity said that the number of NLD delegates able attend this time around will be smaller as some have died, others resigned from the party and several went into hiding after May 2003 Depayin incident.

Nyunt Wei said he had heard that representatives from other groups had also received invitation letters for the convention, including the National Unity Party, or NUP, the re-jigged Burma Socialist Program Party that stood in the 1990 election. The NUP has not been active for years.

The convention is to sit at Nyaunghnapin, Hmawbi township, 23 miles (32 kilometers) north of Rangoon, according to the invitation letters.