Burma needs more than Suu Kyi

Burma needs more than Suu Kyi

Within hours of the unexpected release from house arrest,
Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi conferred with
colleagues from her party, the National League for Democracy. The
ruling State Law and Order Council has warned her not to break
any laws, and it is unclear how far she -- or her party -- will
be allowed to campaign for change.

Nevertheless, the fact that she was allowed contact with the
opposition after nearly six years in detention suggests that, for
the moment, the change in the military government's attitude
toward her is real. Using the logic of totalitarianism, the
government can even boast that it acted according to the law by
releasing Aung San Suu Kyi within the deadline of her detention.

If the underlying reason for Aung San Suu Kyi's release was to
make it easier for foreign investors to ignore domestic public
opinion and pour money and know-how into the Burmese economy,
they should beware. Their commercial enthusiasm should not blind
them to the repression of millions of Burmese with no
international profile to protect them. Aung San Suu Kyi has
called for dialogue and reconciliation. Foreign investors should
urge the military to follow that call, rather than being
satisfied with this week's welcome release.

-- The South China Morning Post