BURMA GIVES HOPE BUT NO PROGRESS

The military dictators who run Burma have fired a few officials and
promoted others in their biggest changes in several years. Unfortunately,
the generals provide no cause to hope that things are improving in that
country. The shake-up in the government and ruling junta failed to address
the two biggest problems faced by Burma. The generals refused to invite
anyone outside their clique. While they touched on the problem of
corruption, they ignored the drugs problem.

One message came across loudly and clearly from last week's piecemeal
announcements. The Burmese army remains determined to hold power, no matter
what the cost. It is supposedly engaged in talks on reconciliation with the
country's democrats. Yet, no outsider was consulted on the changes by the
State Peace and Development Council. Not even the slavish regional and
political leaders who are loyal to Rangoon were invited to comment on the
changes.

The regime, as always, refused to explain its actions to its citizens.
There seems, however, to be a single reason to fire and transfer junta
members, army officers and cabinet ministers. That reason boils down to
self survival. By dismissing older officers, the regime can allow younger
army men to move up. This prevents any ``Young Turk'' movements.

The changes showed there is still a power struggle of sorts, sometimes
described as a balanced regime. But all the orders to fire and transfer
were signed by one man. Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, the man who controls the secret
intelligence apparatus, remains firmly ensconced in his role as Secretary One.

At least two senior members of the junta were apparently fired for
corruption. In some regimes, this would be an encouraging sign. In Burma,
however, the corruption runs so deeply one must be suspicious of the
dismissals of Lt-Gen Win Myint, secretary three, and Lt-Gen Tin Hla, the
minister of military affairs. One can only speculate that their corruption
was too blatant, because it certainly was not unique.

Whatever the specific reasons for the shake-up, the result is immensely
disappointing, to Burmese but especially to friends of Burma. The Burmese,
at least, have suffered a string of similarly oppressive, brutal military
regimes since 1962. The outside world, however, expects better from a
nation so clearly capable of becoming a responsible member of the civilised
world community.

The junta's refusal to include outsiders is a challenge to the Burmese.
Talks with Aung San Suu Kyi and the United Nations are in the second year.
The refusal to make even a token gesture towards other parts of Burmese
society is a blot on the regime. The deputy intelligence chief, Maj-Gen
Kyaw Win, said the shake-ups would have no impact on talks with Mrs Suu
Kyi. That is easy to believe. Nothing has moved the regime a centimetre
from its course of rigid power and control by fear and force.

Burma continues policies that endanger its neighbours. The regime's
encouragement of the drug-dealing United Wa State Army will not change.
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, the architect of last week's reshuffle, is the closest
of all Rangoon officials to the drug traffickers. He could intercede and
affect the flow of drugs into Thailand. It is a scandal he has not.

The International Labour Organisation has reported that Burma, especially
the army, continues to enslave workers. Thai efforts against money
laundering almost always point backwards to Burmese drug traffickers.
Burmese deserve to be governed by an accountable regime. The rest of the
world, first of all the neighbours of Burma, also deserve such a government
in Rangoon. Last week's cosmetic changes failed to address any of the real
problems of Burma.