BurmaNet News, August 8, 2006

[Editor]

August 8, 2006 Issue # 3020

“I’ve stayed away from politics since my release from prison, but I feel
like today belongs to the whole nation,”
- anonymous former political prisoner in attendance at an 8888
commeroration in Rangoon on August 8, 2006, as quoted in the Irrawaddy

INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: Rangoon marks anniversary of democracy movement

BUSINESS / TRADE
Nation: Exim defends Bt4-bn loan to Burma
Thai Press Reports: Thailand asks Myanmar (Burma) for exclusive rights to
develop natural gas fields

ASEAN
Xinhua: Myanmar stresses upholding of ASEAN own principles

REGIONAL
AFP: Malaysia signals Myanmar can't hide behind non-interference policy
AP: Myanmar refugees protest military rule in their country
Thai Press Reports: Thailand Thaksin’s quick trip to Myanmar (Burma)
raises questions
Mizzima: Activists urge Romulo to push Burmese junta on reforms

INTERNATIONAL
Jakarta Post: EU says talks with ASEAN won’t be derailed by Myanmar

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: Eighteen years on

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

August 8, Irrawaddy
Rangoon marks anniversary of democracy movement - Yeni

Hundreds of former student leaders and political prisoners, politicians,
monks, artists, and a few foreign diplomats gathered on Tuesday under
tight security at a Rangoon monastery to commemorate the 18th anniversary
of the brutal suppression of the student-led 1988 pro-democracy movement.

In most years, the anniversary has passed quietly. This year’s ceremony
was organized by the 88-Generation Students group—former student leaders
of the 1988 protests. “The number of attendees surprised us,” former
student leader Min Ko Naing told The Irrawaddy by phone. “This is proof
that a strong desire for democracy is still alive.”

One attendee—a former political prisoner—said that he found out about the
ceremony by listening to radio broadcasts from Washington-based Radio Free
Asia and Norway’s Democratic Voice of Burma. “I’ve stayed away from
politics since my release from prison, but I feel like today belongs to
the whole nation,” he said.

The 88-Generation group released an anniversary statement in which it
called for tripartite talks with the military government, the National
League for Democracy and leaders from Burma’s ethnic nationalities to
address political transition and national reconciliation. “The current
social, political and economic woes have to be resolved,” the statement
said.

Rangoon residents said that security had been increased across the city,
but particularly around Burma’s landmark Shwedagon Pagoda. Sources said
about 60 activists coming to offer prayers were denied entry to the pagoda
by security forces.

State-run The New Light of Myanmar warned today that “those who took part
in the 1988 unrest and members of a local party under foreign influence
are planning to organize a public gathering under the pretext of a
religious ceremony on 8 August.”

On August 8, 1988, protesters demanding the end of Burma’s
pseudo-socialist regime under Gen Ne Win and calling for democratic reform
took to the streets in demonstrations across the country.

As many as 3,000 protesters were gunned down by government troops in
Rangoon and other cities, according to eyewitnesses, but officials figures
stated only 35 police, 15 demonstrators and “a few dozen rioters” were
killed.

The anniversary of Burma’s democracy uprising stirred memories outside the
country as well, with human rights organizations and others marking the
day in Thailand, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, the
US and even along the Thai-Burmese border.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

August 8, The Nation
Exim defends Bt4-bn loan to Burma

The Export-Import Bank of Thailand Tuesday defended its controversial loan
to Burma, saying it had created jobs and income for 16 Thai export firms
as well as boosting bonds with a needy neighbour.

The Bt4 billion loan, for infrastructure development in Burma, had been
properly "executed", the bank said in a statement Tuesday.

The funds had helped create more jobs and income for machinery exporters,
construction contractors and petrochemical producers in Thailand, it said.

Bank president Apichai Boon-therawara said the loan, which has a repayment
term of 12 years, was officially granted in June 2004 to Myanmar (Burma)
Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB) for road construction and infrastructure
development.

MFTB is a state bank designated to allocate the loan funds to various
Burmese agencies for use in the procurement of capital goods and services
from Thailand.

"Up to the present, Exim has provided financial support to Thai exporters
and investors under the procurement contracts granted by the Burmese
government worth Bt3.8 billion. A total draw-down amount of Bt2.7 billion
has been made with all four instalments of interest payment satisfactorily
fulfilled," Apichai said.

Under the approved credit line, Bt1.75 billion had been extended to nine
exporters of machinery and equipment in Thailand, Bt980 million to three
overseas construction contractors, Bt500 million to two petrochemical
enterprises and Bt600 million to two telecommunications companies.

The bank said its lending objective was to support economic development in
neighbouring countries while promoting Thai exports and overseas
investment in a bid to ultimately help increase Thailand's national
income.

Financial assistance to Burma had "far-reaching implications for economic
advancement of the country and Asean region", Exim said, as well as
promoting Thai and Burmese cooperation.

It would also contribute to resolving border security issues as well as
enhancing the living conditions for people in both countries.

"The Bank will make its best effort to ensure the Burmese authority's
effective use of the credit line while safeguarding the interest of
Thailand," it said.

The bank statement follows a sudden trip to Burma last week by caretaker
Premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Critics said they suspected the PM had
personal business motives for making the trip.

The Bt4-billion Exim loan was criticised by opponents of the PM, who
claimed companies connected to Thaksin's family would benefit. None of the
firms that did deals with the Burmese agencies was named in the bank's
statement.

____________________________________

August 7, Thai Press Reports
Thailand asks Myanmar (Burma) for exclusive rights to develop natural gas
fields

Thailand has asked Myanmar (Burma) for exclusive rights to develop its
natural-gas reserves, according to caretaker Energy Minister Viset
Choopiban, The Nation reports.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made the request during a
whistle-stop visit to Burma on Wednesday.

Thaksin met with Burma's top leader Senior General Than Shwe. He asked
that Thailand's biggest energy company, PTT Plc, be permitted exclusive
rights to a natural-gas field in the Bay of Bengal.

Several Cabinet ministers and the Army commander-in-chief accompanied the
PM, who flew in for a hastily organised one-on-one with the reclusive
junta leader.

The rushed and unclear circumstances of the meeting prompted a call from
opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva for Thaksin to come clean about the
real reasons for the trip.

The rare visit caught many people by surprise, including ministers and the
Army chief, who all had to cancel other engagements to accompany the
premier.

Thaksin became the first foreign leader to visit Burma's new
administrative capital of Pyinmana, six hours north of Rangoon.

Thaksin dodged questions about his private meeting with Than Shwe. The PM
simply told reporters on August 3 he had asked the Burmese leaders to
release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

He refused to elaborate, saying it would not be "proper" to disclose his
discussions with the junta chief.

"All you need to know is that we conveyed our points of concern as their
neighbour and said it would benefit regional politics," he said.

Viset told reporters on August 3 that Thaksin tried to persuade Burma to
give an exclusive gas concession to PTT Exploration and Production Plc
(PTTEP). But he did not say if the premier's request was successful. The
natural-gas sites are in the A-1 oilfield in the Bay of Bengal.

Viset said if Thailand received the concession, it should boost energy
security in the long term. PTTEP had already secured a concession to
explore the M-9 oilfield in Burma and preliminary surveys showed there was
substantial gas and oil reserves. Thailand pipes about one billion cubic
feet of gas per day from Burma's offshore reserves in the Andaman Sea.

Energy-hungry Thailand is also set to fund construction of controversial
dams in Burma's northeast, on the Salween River.

Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon on August 3 downplayed Thaksin's
surprise trip, describing it as "normal".

Kantathi said he conveyed Thailand's desire to see Suu Kyi and other
political prisoners released "soon" to his Burma counterpart Nyan Win. He
said the junta agreed to take "Thailand's concerns into consideration. We
want to see concrete progress in Burma towards democracy," he said.

The fact that this "sensitive topic" was discussed was a "positive
development", Kantathi said.

Meanwhile, PTT Exploration and Production, a unit of Thailand's largest
energy firm PTT Plc, said on Friday it has submitted bids to
military-ruled Burma for more petroleum concessions.

"We have already submitted proposals for concessions on another four
petroleum blocks in Myanmar (Burma) and those are in Bengal Gulf," a PTTEP
spokeswoman told Agence France Presse.

"Myanmar is our key focus at present," she said.

PTTEP's already has five projects under development in Burma, mainly in
the Gulf of Martaban which has proved to have large reserves of both oil
and natural gas.

"We are keen to join in any new bidding Burma opens to build up our
reserves amid skyrocketing oil prices," she said.

PTT early this week said it has joined the race against China and India in
a bid for exclusive rights on reserves in the Gulf of Bengal.

The revelation came two days after Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra made a whistle stop visit to Burma to meet with junta leader
Senior General Than Shwe.

Energy MInister Viset Choopiban said earlier that Thailand has asked Burma
for exclusive rights to develop its natural-gas reserves.

He asked that Thailand's biggest energy company, PTT Plc, be permitted
exclusive rights to a natural-gas field in the Bay of Bengal, according to
Viset.

____________________________________
ASEAN

August 8, Xinhua News Agency
Myanmar stresses upholding of ASEAN own principles

Yangon: Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe stressed on Tuesday
the importance of upholding its own principles by ASEAN members including
avoiding interference in other countries' internal affairs.

Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, made the
emphasis in his message on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the
founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"The achievements of ASEAN is not only due to the individual and
collective efforts of the member countries but also for its ways of
achieving things such as consensus building, positive thinking, avoiding
interference in other countries' internal affairs etc," he said.

Noting that ASEAN is in the process of intense integration towards
establishing the ASEAN Community by the year 2020, he called for setting
the ASEAN Vision 2020 as a guide and the Vientiane Action Program as a
strategy to realize the establishment.

He expressed Myanmar's hope for early adoption of the ASEAN Charter which
is the most significant step in working towards the establishment of the
ASEAN community.

However, he pointed out "our ambitions to achieve these aims still rest on
many challenges. We are facing challenge of ASEAN being a credible
organization."

He urged his country people to appreciate and participate in all ASEAN
activities, while the regional grouping is to integrate into a community
and active participation of ASEAN people has become essential to promote
people-to-people contacts and gain better understanding on each other.

He called for maintaining ASEAN's centrality in relations with dialogue
partners and effective cooperation with them in particular and the
international community in general to overcome such challenges as growing
trends of international terrorism, transnational crimes and frequent
incidents of natural disasters.

He also called for promotion of awareness of ASEAN among young people to
cope with existing and new challenge of building peaceful and prosperous
community.

Myanmar joined the grouping in July 1997 which also comprises Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam.

____________________________________

August 8, Mizzima News
Activists urge Romulo to push Burmese junta on reforms - Mungpi

Philippines Foreign Secretary, Alberto Romulo scheduled to visit Burma on
Thursday has been urged by activists and solidarity groups in his country
today to pressure the military junta for immediate political reforms.

The Foreign Secretary's visit should not be a mere diplomatic mission but
should culminate in a meaningful dialogue with the junta to urge the
regime to begin a genuine reconciliation process, coordinator of the
Philippines based Initiative for International Dialogue Egoy Bans told
Mizzima.

"We urged him [Romulo] as the next chairman of the ASEAN council of
ministers, to discuss these issues with the military junta," Bans said.

Romulo on Monday told reporters that he is scheduled to visit
military-ruled Burma from Thursday to Saturday as part of a regional
effort to push for democratic reforms in Burma.

However, the official statement posted on the website of the Philippines
Department of Foreign Affairs said, "Secretary Alberto G. Romulo will make
an official visit to Myanmar [Burma]
. as part of the tradition and
practice of new Foreign Ministers or Secretaries of the Association of
South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to formally meet their counterparts in
the ASEAN capitals during their respective tenures."

The Philippines will assume the chairmanship of Asean in 2007 with the
Foreign Secretary, Alberto Romulo, as the next chairman of ASEAN council
of ministers.

After the picketing in front of the Burmese embassy in Makati today to
mark the 18th anniversary of the nation-wide uprising in Burma, activists
and members of the Free Burma Coalition, a coalition of more than 50 Burma
solidarity groups including the IID, marched to the Philippines department
of Foreign Affairs demanding a dialogue with Romulo.

“For the past few days we have been asking him [Romulo] for a dialogue

but they [the department] said that the secretary is busy and his schedule
is tight and they sent a junior official to meet us," said Bans.

Activists persisting to meet the Foreign Secretary rejected the offer to
meet the junior official, Bans added.

He said that activists have asked for a dialogue with Romulo to urge him
to make the most of his trip in the interest of the Burmese people by
pressurizing the junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi, and to begin a
reconciliation process.

Burma's failure to implement political reforms had drawn international
condemnation and caused friction between the Asean and its major trading
partners including the United States and the European Union, which has
imposed sanctions against the military regime.

Asean, in a new move which is seen as a departure from its traditional
stand of non-interference in internal affairs of member states, had openly
criticized the Burmese generals for its failure to implement reforms at
the Asean Ministerial Meeting and the Asean Regional Forum held in Kuala
Lumpur last month.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

August 8, Agence France Presse
Malaysia signals Myanmar can't hide behind non-interference policy

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia signalled Tuesday that Myanmar will not be allowed
to hide behind ASEAN's policy of non-interference in members' affairs,
saying actions that threaten the bloc's credibility cannot be ignored.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has long shied away
from criticising other members, but in recent months the gloves have come
off against military-ruled Myanmar which has embarrassed the bloc by
refusing to accept democratic reforms.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a speech marking the 39th
anniversary of ASEAN's founding that the Myanmar issue had led to much
debate about the non-interference policy and it was due for an overhaul.

"The concept and principle contained in the treaty might indeed require
refining or updating in order to be relevant and responsive to the
changing needs of member countries," he said, adding this could be done in
the group's new charter, or constitution, which is currently being
drafted.

There is also speculation that the new charter could contain a provision
for members to be suspended or ejected -- a tool which would be squarely
aimed at Myanmar which at the moment cannot be expelled from the group.

"I think Myanmar has to accept the fact that ASEAN and Myanmar, they are a
member of our family," said Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

"As a member of our family, anything that happens that particularly
affects us, then we should be able to deal with it rather than ignoring it
and saying it is internal affairs," he said.

Myanmar's ruling junta often dismisses criticism of its refusal to shift
to democracy or release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi by describing
the issues as "internal affairs".

"Internal affairs have to be looked in terms of how it affects fellow
ASEAN members," Syed Hamid said.

"We do not want to go and tell them how they should govern but if anything
happens in Myanmar that affects the credibility and integrity of ASEAN
then we should be talking about it, we should be able to play a role and
try in what what way we could contribute."

ASEAN foreign ministers last month released a watered-down version of a
statement on Myanmar after their annual talks, following intense debate
which pitted the democracies of Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore
against smaller member that opposed tougher wording.

____________________________________

August 8, Associated Press
Myanmar refugees protest military rule in their country – Farid Hossain

Dhaka: Dozens of Myanmar refugees and their local supporters rallied in
the Bangladesh capital Tuesday to demand that Myanmar's military junta
step down and allow democracy.

The protest marked the 18th anniversary of a pro-democracy movement in
Myanmar that was crushed by the military junta.

The protesters rallied outside Bangladesh's foreign ministry office,
waving placards "Down with military junta in Myanmar," "Restore democracy
in Myanmar and "Free our leader Suu Kyi."

Myanmar dissidents observe Aug. 8 as "Democracy Day" when nationwide
protests began against the 26-year-old rule of then-military strongman
Gen. Ne Win.

The 1988 protests saw the downfall of Ne Win, but a new crop of generals
seized power.

They called elections in 1990 but overturned the results, which gave a
landslide victory to pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy party.

Suu Kyi, 60, has spent nearly 11 of the last 17 years in detention, mostly
under house arrest. She was most recently taken into custody in May 2003,
after a mob supporting the junta attacked her motorcade.

"Suu Kyi is the real leader of our country. The military junta is clinging
to power through oppression and brutality," Khaing San Lunn, a spokesman
for the refugees told the rally.

Several thousand Myanmar refugees currently live in Bangladesh with
support from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

They fled their country over the years due to alleged persecution by the
military junta.

____________________________________

August 8, Thai Press Reports
Thailand Thaksin’s quick trip to Myanmar (Burma) raises questions

PM's explanation fails to convince his critics, the Bangkok Post reports.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on August 3 failed to convince
critics that he went to Burma on a national or regional mission on
Wednesday. Aside from questioning the transparency and appropriateness of
the half-day visit made by a caretaker government on very short notice,
the critics believe there were vested interests involved.

Former Third Army commander Watanachai Chaimuanwong alleged that Mr
Thaksin went there in search of new business opportunities opened up by
the junta's decision to move the capital to Naypyidaw. Mr Thaksin was the
first Asean leader to visit the new capital since the junta announced the
move last November.

''Burma has only recently moved its capital. There is a lot to be done in
terms of laying down communications networks, of high technology,'' Gen
Watanachai said.

He said Mr Thaksin was also trying to cultivate relations with Senior
General Than Shwe after Gen Khin Nyunt was removed as prime minister in
October 2004. Gen Khin Nyunt's family was engaged in the telecoms business
with the Shinawatra family.

Suchit Bunbongkarn, a former Constitution Court judge, scoffed at Mr
Thaksin's explanation that he was doing the bidding of Asean, saying Mr
Thaksin did not have the authority or consent of Asean.

''It's hard to believe there is no personal interest involved. The last
time he went to Singapore, he said it was for vacation. When he came back,
there was a takeover of Shin Corp by Temasek,'' he said.

Mr Suchit also said the fact the army commander-in-chief was the only
military officer in the prime minister's entourage reflected Mr Thaksin's
paranoia.

''He took him [Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin] along to prevent the army from
making a move while he was away, just for a few hours. He is in fear,
terrible fear that something might happen.'' Mr Thaksin defended his trip,
saying Thailand, as a close neighbour, acted as a messenger for Asean and
the international community which had serious concerns about Burma's
stagnant democratic reforms. He brushed off criticism that he was there to
pursue his business interests.

''What business? My family has sold it, so they aren't thinking about
doing business. People who mentioned this should try meditation. Their
lives will probably be better,'' he said.

Energy Minister Viset Choopiban said he had asked Mr Thaksin to help
negotiate the approval of applications by PTT Exploration and Production
Plc for rights to explore for oil and natural gas in four fields in the
Bay of Bengal. These include blocks A-2 and A5, which are close to A-1
whose concession was granted to South Korea which has already found oil
and gas reserves there.

Mr Thaksin was also asked to negotiate the purchase of more natural gas
from Burma, he said.

Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva questioned if a caretaker prime
minister could pay an official visit to another country. He insisted the
country had the right to know if Mr Thaksin went to Burma on a national
mission, and called on Mr Thaksin to show transparency by disclosing
details of the talks.

Suriyasai Katasila, coordinator of the People's Alliance for Democracy,
was unconvinced by Mr Thaksin's explanation and demanded the return of a
four-billion-baht loan the Exim Bank approved for the junta to rent a
satellite from Shin Sat.

Burma watcher Sunai Phasuk said it was inappropriate of the caretaker
government to conduct private diplomacy. ''[The trip] only confirms vested
interests this government has with the regime,'' he said.

Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said the Burmese leadership just
happened to be available on Aug 2.

''Yes, it was a short notice and the visit was an urgent and unprepared
one, but that's the way Thailand manages relations with neighbours.'' Mr
Kantathi said he told his counterpart he was ''disappointed'' with the
extended detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, and Burma promised to reconsider
the issue.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

August 8, Jakarta Post
EU says talks with ASEAN won’t be derailed by Myanmar - Abdul Khalik

Despite its disappointment with the lack of democratic progress in
Myanmar, the European Union (EU) says it will not allow the issue to
derail the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Finland on Sept. 10 and 11

Neither will the issue of Myanmar hamper ongoing discussions about the
possibility of the EU signing a free trade area (FTA) agreement and the
Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) with the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), says the EU

Finland's Ambassador to Indonesia Markku Niinioja said Myanmar would
attend the ASEM as a member of ASEAN, while some countries would probably
like to discuss the progress of democratization in the country

"Myanmar has been accepted by ASEAN and has joined the ASEM since the 2004
meeting in Hanoi. We are very concerned about what has happened in Myanmar
but we appreciate ASEAN's efforts so far," Niinioja said here Monday

Ronan Mac Aongusa, first secretary at the Office of the EU Delegation of
the European Commission (EC) to Indonesia, said the EU had consistently
voiced its concerns over human rights violations within Myanmar and the
absence of moves toward democracy in the country

"It is very clear that the direction of the European Union's policy is
that Myanmar must move toward democracy and there must be an arrangement
for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi as soon as possible. And on that
basis, there will be room for discussion how the EU will be able to
support democratization in Myanmar further," he said

The EC is the executive arm of the 25-member EU

Mac Aongusa rejected suggestions that human rights violations in Myanmar
would negatively affect current discussions between the EU and ASEAN on
the TAC and free trade agreement

Niinioja said the priority issues of the ASEM, which will be held in
Helsinki, would be cooperation in addressing security threats, including
global health threats such as avian influenza, as well as questions
related to energy security and climate change

"The 10 years of ASEM cooperation will also be one of the meeting's
cross-cutting themes. The summit will aim to submit proposals for further
development of the ASEM cooperation and to adopt a Helsinki declaration on
the future of ASEM," he said

Other main items on the agenda will include discussions on the
multilateral international system, support for the conclusion of World
Trade Organization talks and questions relating to globalization,
competitiveness and structural changes in the global economy

Niinioja said that current international issues, including the Middle East
conflict and cooperation in natural disaster management, would possibly be
discussed on the sidelines of the summit

ASEM is a forum that promotes various levels of cooperation among Asian
and European countries. It was initiated in 1996 to strengthen dialog and
interaction between Asia and Europe. The inaugural ASEM summit was held in
Bangkok, Thailand, in 1996 and since then the meeting of heads of state or
government has been organized every two years alternately in Asia and
Europe

The participants of the ASEM summit are 25 representatives of the EU
countries, the 10 members of ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea

In Europe, ASEM is hosted by the country that holds the European Union
presidency. The sixth ASEM summit this year is to be organized during
Finland's EU presidency between July 1 and Dec. 31

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

August 8, The Irrawaddy
Eighteen years on

Armored personnel carriers, army trucks and fire engines roared to
Rangoon’s City Hall. Minutes later, machine guns and automatic rifles were
firing directly into a crowd of peaceful demonstrators, including many
young students. Meanwhile, about 300 protestors were being gunned down by
government troops in Sagaing, 15 km downstream on the Irrawaddy River from
Mandalay, Burma’s second city.

It was the morning of Aug 8, 1988, known as “the day of four eights
[8.8.88]” when a nationwide pro-democracy uprising broke out across the
country.

An estimated 3,000 protestors were killed on Burma’s streets during the
’88 uprising. It took security forces more than a month until Sept 18 to
quell the nationwide outcry.

Although it has been 18 long years since then, the military still holds
power. The country is still ruled by a clique of generals whose hands are
stained with the blood of unarmed civilians, monks and young students who
fell during the uprising.

Apart from those killed, many protestors were thrown behind bars. The
military regime has detained hundreds of alleged political activists since
1988, many serving harsh, long-term sentences, according to the
Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners–Burma.

After 18 years, the group says, about 1,200 political prisoners still
suffer severe mistreatment in the junta’s prisons. And 128 political
detainees have died in the regime’s prisons and interrogation centers
during that time.

Meanwhile, some of Burma’s neighbors engage with the regime as if nothing
happened. Thailand, China and India, for instance, have been keen to keep
on good terms with the Burmese generals for their own business interests.

Only last week, Thai  Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a short visit
to Burma’s new capital Naypyidaw in an unannounced trip which critics
viewed as being for mainly personal business reasons. .

Burma’s fellow members of Asean have not dropped their “constructive
engagement” policy towards the junta, despite their concern about the
country’s political situation.

Some foreign and Burmese scholars have in recent years tried to promote
engagement with the regime as a way out of the political stalemate. But
the generals have shown no visible interest in working with democratic
forces, particularly the opposition National League for Democracy party.

The NLD won the 1990 general election by a landslide, but the junta simply
ignored the result. Its leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house
arrest for more than 10 of the past 17 years.

Since 1988, the regime has shown that it is still not averse to using
violence as a political tool.  On May 30, 2003, for instance, a
government-backed mob attacked Suu Kyi’s convoy in upper Burma, during one
of her rare spells of freedom from detention. Dozens were killed, and Suu
Kyi herself narrowly escaped death.

While the junta has shown no real commitment to political reform, despite
its announcement of a road-map to democracy, the economy stagnates and
society remains crippled.

Eighteen years on, blood on the generals’ hands is still warm, and people
shaking their hands should realize they are dealing with a brutal regime.
They should remember the words of South African Nobel Peace Laureate
Nelson Mandela, who spent nearly 30 years in jail under a brutal regime. 
He said that such atrocities could be forgiven, but not forgotten.