GRAPE VINE

Burmese junta only buying time

source : The Nation - Dec 21, 2000.Letters to the Editor

The Nation's December 17 editorial ["Despite hype, nothing new from Rangoon"] on Burma is a hallmark of opinion and analysis. The junta's mouthpiece, Myanmar Alin, recently showed its ire by demanding action against The Nation.

Referring to the Burmese foreign minister's statement, The Nation's editorial stated: ". . . there would not be an early dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi unless the opposition groups give up their fight. Why should they? They won the election in May 1990."

May 1990 was the watershed event in Burmese politics. It holds the key to resolving the political crisis. The junta held this election. It announced the results as free and fair.

The NLD [National League for Democracy] won the mandate with a landslide victory to take up the governance of the country. Ten years have passed. The junta has not honoured the people's verdict. Its only game is to play with rhetoric and buy time. Enough has been enough.

The time for a peaceful transition to democracy is overdue. Let not history repeat itself.

BK Sen
BANGKOK