Hope for a solution to Burma’s political crisis through a political dialogue dimmed this week, following the junta’s hard-line stand at a press conference on Monday and Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s endorsement on Tuesday of the seven-step roadmap to democracy.

Than Shwe made his comments in a statement released on the 87th anniversary of Burma’s National Day.

He said the junta stands behind the seven-step roadmap it adopted to transform the nation into a “peaceful, modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic country.”

He also introduced a national day slogan, “To realize the state’s seven-step road map,” The New Light of Myanmar reported on Tuesday.

One of Than Shwe’s right-hand men, Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, the head of the junta’s information committee, said during a press conference on Monday the junta will not open up the process of writing the constitution to opposition groups or figures, even though the international community, including China, has called for an inclusive process in writing the constitution and in national reconciliation.

“The suggestions to review adopted principles by forming necessary bodies and to coordinate the principles with the aspirations of anti-government groups which did not participate in the Nation Convention are no longer appropriate to the present situation,” said Kyaw Hsan

The press conference’s main agenda was to blame dissident groups inside and outside Burma and foreign governments, particularly the United States, for the demonstrations in August and September.

Brig-Gen Khin Yi, the head of Burma’s police, said on Monday the September uprising was aimed to bring down the junta through joint efforts by the FDB (the Forum for Democracy in Burma), the 88 Generation Students group and other opposition elements by “placing the Sangha [monks] cause in the center.”

Khin Yi also blamed the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy, for attempting to form an interim government.

Nyan Win, a spokesperson of the NLD, denied Khin Yi’s accusation.

“If we review the accusation, we will see that Brig-Gen Khin Yi said the police knew about the forming of an interim government by the NLD. But he [Khin Yi] did not give any details. Therefore, it is just false blaming,” said Nyan Win. “Individuals from the NLD joined the protests. But no protesters, including the Buddhist monks, committed violence.”

Criticizing the junta’s stance, Aye Thar Aung, a prominent Arakan ethnic leader, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday the junta repeatedly says it will hold a dialogue, but it also says it will complete its roadmap without including any opposition groups.

“If the one-sided way of the generals cannot be reviewed, why should we talk in dialogue?” he asked. “Dialogue means to discuss and adjust. Therefore, if the junta goes on with its one-sided roadmap, their calling for a dialogue is just a trick.”

Thakin Chan Tun, a veteran politician and a former Burmese ambassador to China, said there is a clear message that the junta is going to complete the roadmap-the drafting of a constitution, a referendum for the constitution, new elections and then a new government.

“There is no chance of a dialogue or a review of the constitution, whatever the international community suggests,” he said. “What I learned from them is that the junta still does not have any political will for dialogue or for national conciliation. The ongoing meetings between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Minister U Aung Kyi are just for show. ”

The former ambassador to China said even China’s efforts to achieve national reconciliation will not be enough to change the junta’s course.

Meanwhile, the China National Petroleum Corp, the country’s biggest oil and gas producer, signed an agreement on December 2 with the southwestern province of Yunnan to cooperate in building an oil refinery, a step toward building a pipeline through neighboring Burma.