Commentary Hurfom:SPDC’s will to oppose ‘National Reconciliation’
June 26, 2009
The international community has been paying serious attention to the trial against Burma prodemocracy
leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, but the military regime’s State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) has tried to change that attention by attacking the Karen National Union (KNU)
and the Karen people.
This is an old strategy the SPDC has played for several years. When the international community,
including ASEAN and Thailand, condemned the Burmese government for the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi, the SPDC wanted to show their resentment of the international community.
They then attacked the KNU and Karen people to distract from the arrest, and to factionalize the KNU
community. Human rights violations are again being committed by SPDC troops and thousands of refugees
flee to Thailand.
The arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the attack against the Karen people in eastern Burma shows
that the SPDC does not really want to proceed with ‘national reconciliation’. They totally rejected the international
community and oppositions’ proposal for political dialogue, yet still move forward with their 7 point ‘road-map’
to a ‘more disciplined democracy’.
Even after 2010 elections, the political and armed conflict in Burma will continued and many human
rights and refugees displacement problems will remain unsolved. Without political reconciliation in Burma,
the countries problems will remain unsolved and will continue to require international support.
