Burmese junta gains strength

Early this week, the Burmese Ambassador to Thailand, Tin Winn, in an interview with a local daily, announced that his country's military government will not discuss political reforms with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Reforms, he said, would continue to be undertaken solely by the National Convention that has been involved in the drafting of a new constitution since 1993.

When Suu Kyi was freed in early July, there were heightened expectations in Burma that her release would bring about change.

Other than the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader being able to grant interviews and receive friends in her house, nothing much has happened.

Burma still faces dilemmas, much to the consternation of advocates of democracy in the free world.

In 1988, Burmese troops fired upon pro-democracy demonstrators, killed large numbers of unarmed protesters and set up the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

In 1990, when national elections were held, the SLORC refused to recognize the results when Suu Kyi's NLD won an overwhelming majority of seats.

Today, the junta is still firmly entrenched in power and human rights abuses in Burma continue unabated.

Burma is in a state of terror and the generals, who will not hesitate to use brute force to silence dissent, are still propped up by certain countries.

Burmese democrats were dealt another blow last week when influential U.S. Sen Mitch McConnell withdrew his controversial Senate amendment that would have imposed U.S. sanctions on Burma and end trade benefits for countries which do business with the SLORC.

Hope must not be lost for Burma. The Burmese people realize the final responsibility for their fate lies in their hands.

SLORC, whether it likes it or not, is basically an occupying force in the country. And ultimately, as history has shown, all occupying troops will have to go when the people rise up en masse against tyranny.

-- The Nation, Bangkok