Suu Kyi Rejects Deal

The "Burma File" is reporting that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has 'rebuffed' Than Shwe and the ruling junta's offer of talks. A National League of Democracy (NLD) spokesman explained,

"NLD spokesman Nyan Win said the conditions set by Than Shwe for a meeting with Suu Kyi were tantamount to 'asking her to confess to offences that she has not committed.'"

The United States, together with Great Britain and France, has called for the immediate release of detained protestors and other political prisoners (which would include the lady).

The article by three permanent security council members will be presented to the entire security council on Monday. Burma File reports, "The 'statement', which has no inherent power of enforcement, will be presented on Monday to the UN Security Council, where China will be asked this time to withhold its veto and so signal that it also wants democratic change in Burma."

The Karen National Liberation Army has been operating in the Karen (Kayin) state almost since World War 2. Burma File reports regarding the Karen army, "Its political wing, the Karen National Union, offered assistance to the protesters in Rangoon at the height of the demonstrations, but the government’s security forces locked the city down before any practical alliance could be discussed."

The junta has from the beginning followed a policy of "divide and conquer" with the nation's numerous ethnic and tribal peoples. It seems unlikely that any kind of democracy or freedom will be achieved until the various people groups of the country can speak with a united voice.

RB