Reform in Myanmar

Slowly, the political battle lines are forming in Myanmar between the government and an opposition committed to profound change. The military regime has decided to try to harass its opposition with a short-sighted and trivial legal maneuver.

In recent days, it has barred Aung San Suu Kyi from regaining leadership of the National League for Democracy (NLD).

The government has drawn on a 1990 law which permits the regime to approve the leaders of political parties.

After locking up Ms. Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders without charges, the regime pressured the party to dismiss them in 1991. Now it has released them, but insists on its right to bar them from resuming their former positions.

The hatchet men in this business are actually an anonymous five-member election commission, appointed by the junta to conduct the 1990 election.

But they are merely toadies to the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). The NLD met openly (and legally) earlier this month to discuss party business. One of the urgent matters was party leadership.

There was little surprise when Ms. Suu Kyi was reelected as head of the NLD, and U kyi Maung and U tin Oo were also reappointed. All three are former political prisoners of the regime.

The changes were submitted, as the law demands, to the election commission. There was little surprise when it gave formal refusal to the new party hierarchy, but worse was yet to come.

It now is common knowledge that SLORC leaders dictated refusal of the new NLD lineup.

It is feared they will stand by this unwise and confrontational decision. The aim seems to be to force the NLD out of existence. It is hard to imagine a more ill-considered action.

The junta leaders must come to grips eventually with these human rights violations and the fact of political opposition.

They should recognize that the Myanmar of the future must be a more open society. All citizens are entitled to have a voice in their nation's future.

If SLORC continues to insist on enforcing outdated and unpopular laws, it will face the consequences.

Far better that the regime enter meaningful negotiations aimed at reconciliation of all Burmese for the sake of the nation.

-- The Bangkok Post