A friendly hand from the government gives Burma an unexpected chance today to show its sincerity towards its own citizens, as well as its neighbours. A forum organised by Thailand gives the military junta an opportunity to explain its ``road map'' to move Burma from military dictatorship to democracy. The generals would be well advised to provide a detailed explanation.
Time is not on Burma's side. Pressure is growing from many angles for peaceful change in the unhappy country. A straight presentation today could convince at least some observers the generals are determined to move towards an accountable government.
The government deserves credit for organising the forum. Attendance by Burma was always in doubt. The regime said it would not participate if the conference was merely for criticising Rangoon. There is, in fact, a lot of justified criticism. But there are many other platforms for that. Today's forum participants should listen carefully to any plans the generals have to bring their country to a peaceful regime.
Time is not on the side of the generals. Since they countenanced a murderous attack on democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her followers on May 30, events and opinion have moved quickly. Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda of Indonesia demanded last month that Rangoon provide a public timetable on the transition to democracy. The statement shocked Burma.
Other pressure is building as well. The US Treasury Department has designated the entire country of Burma as a money laundry. It is forcing anyone doing business in America to cut all trade ties to Burma. Heavy penalties apply. Last week, Japan insisted to willing summit partners from Asean that Burma be barred from receiving any aid until it releases and shares political power with Mrs Suu Kyi and fellow democrats.
The United Nations minced no words last month in its first detailed report on the ``Depayin incident'', which killed an unknown number of people and left Mrs Suu Kyi under arrest. The violence ``could not have happened without the connivance of state agents'', said human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro. The government version of events, contradicted by smuggled videotape and eyewitness reports, is that it was taken completely by surprise by the violence. It is a mark of the credibility of the Rangoon dictators that no one believes that.
The US also financially blackballed two Burmese banks. Myanmar Mayflower Bank is owned by a syndicate believed to have close connections to the United Wa State Army, while Asia Wealth Bank is backed by U Eike Tun, from the Kokang region and said to have close connections with heroin kingpin Lo Hsing-han.
Burmese citizens have many grievances against the military regime. Some are not properly the business of outsiders, nor is the exact form of government Burma will enjoy after the dictators depart. But outsiders have legitimate complaints. First and foremost is the continuing drug trafficking from that country, and the public lack of results from what the generals claim are efforts to combat it.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will show on Dec 26 that he realises some decent Burmese citizens are making an effort to throw off their drug dependency. His visit to a Wa village will demonstrate many people are willing to make the changes necessary to leave the drug trade, and reject drug traffickers. Many will be waiting to see if the Burmese military regime can do the same. The generals have a short time to demonstrate they are serious about working to help their citizens and their neighbours. They should give a clear timetable for the installation of an accountable government in Rangoon.