Website Editorial Comments on Burma Offer to Change to Democratic Rule

Text of report in English by Thailand-based Burmese publication Irrawaddy website on 11 February

Burma’s state-run media has announced that the junta will hold a referendum on a new constitution in May, to be followed by elections in 2010. “The time has now come to change from military rule to democratic civilian rule,” the state media reported.

The junta’s unexpected announcement follows a proposal by the country’s celebrated democracy icon and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi for unconditional talks “at the highest level” within a specific time frame.

Last month, we heard clearly the frustration felt by Suu Kyi about the way her talks are going with the regime’s mediator, Aung Kyi. Her party’s spokesman, Nyan Win, quoted her as saying: “Let’s hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

It’s clear to the entire world how best to solve Burma’s long political deadlock after the massive abuses committed by the regime in its crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in September.

Now the junta comes up with an incomplete announcement that it’s pursuing its self-styled “road map to democracy,” including a constitutional convention that concluded its work last year.

The announcement – made on Saturday, February 9, a number signifying good fortune for the generals – is insufficient to satisfy either Burma’s democratic opposition or the international community, despite the fact that it marked the first time that the military government has committed itself to a date for the referendum and elections.

Leading pro-democracy activists in the country, notably the 88 Generation Students group and the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks, have warned that the junta could face a new wave of protests during the planned constitutional referendum, urging voters to reject the regime’s charter.

Foreign governments, including those of the UK, Australia, Japan and Singapore, have called on the junta to ensure that the transition process is “inclusive” and intended to lead to peaceful national reconciliation.

If the regime has the will to consider a genuine transition to the handover of power to a civilian government, the political preconditions must be created by allowing the public to peacefully participate in the process and by releasing all political prisoners, including Suu Kyi and detained ethnic leaders. Such steps would definitely help build trust, not only between the junta and the opposition, but also within the international community.

It should not be forgotten, however, that the junta has never kept the numerous promises it has made over the years to engage in reconciliation with its opponents. The memory is still vivid of the 1990 election, when the regime ignored the landslide victory scored by the National League for Democracy led by Suu Kyi, who received long terms of house arrest rather than the victor’s laurels due to her.

The international community, led by the UN Security Council, must work with the Burmese people at this time. China, India and Asean have an active role to play in Burma’s future, and their diplomatic efforts to arrange talks between opposition and regime and to monitor every step of the reconciliation process must be welcomed.

The ruling generals, for their part, must show the world they truly wish to move towards a legitimate government and gain the world’s recognition as leaders who guided Burma to genuine national reconciliation. By so doing, the generals could do much to repair the image they have created as unenlightened villains with their people’s blood on their hands.

The hope to build a new democratic and stable Burma is still strong among the Burmese people, despite the brutal repression of the past 20 years. They want to participate in a process of political, economic and social change. Transition should not be one- sided.

Originally published by Irrawaddy website, Chiang Mai, in English 11 Feb 08.

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.