Than Shwe: Portraits in Political Courage

I don't know why AP is reporting this under the headline "Junta Chief to Meet with Opposition Leader" (italics mine):

The head of Myanmar's military junta told a U.N. envoy this week that he is willing to meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but with certain preconditions, the state media reported Thursday.

It also said that 2,093 people had been arrested in last week's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy activists, and 692 have been released.

Sen. Gen. Than Shwe told envoy Ibrahim Gambari during their talks Tuesday that he is willing to meet Suu Kyi if she gives up her calls for confronting the government and for imposing sanctions on it, state TV and radio reported

I imagine this means something like: If Suu Kyi signs a document denouncing her party, Than Shwe will graciously agree to meet with her. Which is to say, the government's position hasn't changed at all. Suu Kyi is obviously not going to agree to these terms; this isn't an offer that's meant to be accepted. This "concession" just allows the government space to claim it is being responsive to the monks' call for dialogue, and to cast Suu Kyi as an obstructionist. No doubt The New Light of Myanmar will soon report on Suu Kyi's "regrettable" refusal to meet with the oh-so-reasonable ministers.