No hurry to praise SLORC

Last week's release of Burmese (Myanmarese) opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is as significant as a similar event in 1990, when Nelson Mandela was let out of prison in South Africa.

Now that the military junta, calling itself the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), has released the Nobel Peace laureate, it is inspiring to note that Suu Kyi never buckled under pressure in her almost six years of house detention. The leader of the National League for Democracy still holds steadfast to her political ideals.

Suu Kyi's political views are not those of the SLORC, and so there is an overwhelming danger that she could be rearrested under a different set of arbitrary laws if she decides to organize mass movements for the restoration of democracy in the country.

One perplexing thing is the new Constitution being drafted by the SLORC-controlled National Convention. The military junta has made it very clear that Suu Kyi will not have a role in the country's political process, with the lame excuse that she has lived abroad and is married to a foreigner.

The future of many of the SLORC's generals is linked to keeping the status quo in Burma. If democracy was restored, their business links forged with neighboring ASEAN countries would be jeopardized.

The SLORC will be attending the ASEAN ministers' meeting in Brunei later this month, trying to convince everyone that it has turned over a new leaf so that normal aid flow can be resumed.

But has it?

Before we place laurels on the head of the military junta, we need to pause for a moment. All in all, Burma is still not free unless the military junta releases all political prisoners, recognizes the results of the 1990 general election and hands over power to the people.

-- The Nation, Bangkok