Junta leaders, Suu Kyi in regular contact

By Amit Baruah

YANGON, FEB. 18. Myanmar's military authorities are maintaining a regular process of engagement with the National League for Democracy (NLD) general secretary, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi.

According to informed sources, a deputy to the Secretary-I of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and chief of the Director of Defence Services Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, has been having weekly sessions with Ms. Suu Kyi.

The first contacts between the Nobel laureate and the military authorities started in October last year and have now blossomed into a couple of sessions every week.

The sources told this correspondent that two issues were currently under discussion - what to do regarding the results of the 1990 elections (in which the NLD emerged the winner) and the drafting of a new Constitution for the country.

They said the dialogue with Ms. Suu Kyi, who remains confined to her University Avenue home, but is allowed to visit relatives from time to time for social occasions, remains at a confidence- building stage.

However, the sources maintained that the dialogue process appeared to be ``irreversible'', but no one wanted to put any time-frame to the talks, which have been welcomed by the world at large.

It would appear that at this stage, Ms. Suu Kyi has two choices - stick to her position of the principled democrat or eventually arrive at a compromise with the military Government - and don the role of a practical politician.

The sources were also of the opinion that the dialogue between Ms. Suu Kyi and the military authorities was principally home- grown, though the U.N. Secretary-General's special envoy, Mr. Razali Ismail, had facilitated the process by carrying regular messages between the two parties.

For the SPDC, the fact that the country's economy is still not taking off and it receives absolutely no funding from international monetary institutions has become a very serious issue.

Also, the prospective sanctions from the International Labour Organisation (currently in abeyance) seem to have influenced the decision of the Government to agree to the dialogue with Ms. Suu Kyi.

The sources believe that by this dialogue, the Government has finally recognised the popular NLD leader as an interlocutor - a major concession in itself.

The military authorities are aware that an influential section of the international community, which has been following a policy of non- engagement, is holding back further action on account of the current dialogue.

However, the sources are quick to point out that despite all the problems, the military is firmly entrenched in the country, especially following agreements with a clutch of insurgent outfits that have plagued the country since its independence.

Clearly, the process of dialogue itself will allow both parties to make assessments of each other. The sources believe that there are no discussions on power-sharing as yet and it is difficult to visualise the military packing the bags and returning to the barracks. They have no reason to do so.

The country, overall, remains quiet - there are no challenges to the authority of the military. There is an atmosphere of a quiescence, a situation that suits the Government just fine.

The sources stress that there are actually three parties involved - the military, the NLD and the insurgent groups. Finally, any constitutional arrangement must meet the demands of the numerous ethnic groups that want a place in the Sun in Myanmar.

Opinion is divided here on whether the dialogue is part of a pressure-receiving tactic by the military or the process is for real. Finally, it would all depend on the content of the dialogue, which is taking place away from the public eye.

Many believe that the decision of the two sides to keep their lips sealed on the talks is a positive sign. There has so far been nothing for the press apart from the confirmation from both sides that they have engaged.

Given the fact that the decade of the 1990's was barren and the country moved no closer to reconciliation, the talks in themselves can only be welcomed.

For the sake of this country, its well-wishers can only hope and pray that the talks lead to a solution that is acceptable to all the parties.

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Section  : International
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