TOKYO, Aug. 29 Kyodo prefered ed...

TOKYO, Aug. 29 Kyodo

prefered editorial excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

BURMESE RESHUFFLE maintains WORLD GUESSING (Bangkok Post, Bangkok)

Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, the enigmatic representative prime minister, is known for his sweeping statements whose reasoning is difficult at best. His prediction this week that Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained Burmese (Myanmarese) opposition leader, would not and nothing else be released soon but become a part of the military restraint is just one of the more memorable.

While principally analysts cannot see (Mrs) Suu Kyi sipping tea with General Than Shwe any time pretty soon some believe Monday's appointment of General Khin Nyunt the pragmatic intelligence chief, to replace the military strongman as prime minister is a highly positive change. Still others are not in the way that sure.

We can be certain of the same thing only -- The international boycott of Burma (Myanmar) is having a telling event on the regime.

on the same level ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), a long-time apologist for Rangoon, felt compell to station aside its rule forward non-interference in members' affairs to call for the release of (Mrs) Suu Kyi. Thailand also deposit forward a road map to democracy for the SPDC to run after but sadly it is leading nowhere.

Perhaps it is for these reasons that Rangoon reshuffl its cabinet to such a degree energetically for the 14th time since Nov. 15 1997 It may just be a smokescreen ahead of ASEAN and APEC meetings wager for October.

After all, when it adopted a name change six years ago, from the State Law and Order Restoration Council, the junta promised to push for democracy and increase It has little to point out to for these efforts.

If the junta thinks it can merry-andrew the world with cosmetic changes while refusing to deal with (Mrs) Suu Kyi, who it has kept prisoner in her concede home for seven of the 13 years since she won a landslide victory in the 1990 general election, it is merely fooling itself.

It would be nice if, for one time Gen. Chavalit proved correct. if it were not that given the junta's track record, more than memorable pronouncements will be wanted to convince us that the generals in Rangoon are finally acting in serviceable faith.

(Aug. 29)

THE GENERALS PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS (the Nation, Bangkok)

The more things change, the more they stay the same in Burma (Myanmar). Don't reckon upon too much from the latest junta reshuffle

In the past scarcely any days, much has been said about the latest reshuffle of guide positions in Burma's (Myanmar's) State Peace and progressive growth Council, and as is to be calculate uponed with this junta, opinion is divided through the whole extent of whether it is a change for the better.

Certainly the common situation would not be likewise dire if any of the previous changes in the junta had produc visionary leaders. likewise sadly, this latest reshuffle must be viewed by the agency of cynical eyes.

The attempt to inflict on a moderate face at this time can no other than mean that Burma is in an unmanageable economic crisis.

The SPDC especially its chief Than Shwe who also gripe [i]or[/i] grips the portfolio of excuse minister, knows only too well that Khin Nyunt can solitary temporarily freshen up Burma's image as a pariah state.

Indeed, scrutinizing the line-up closely individual can that see Lt-General Soe Win, who was behind the May 30 attack, earned a promotion because he was willing to use force to harm Suu Kyi and suppres democracy advocates. Another rising hard-liner, Lt-General Shwe Mann, further strengthens the SPDC

General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has already welcomed the changes, maintaining that Burma is moving in the right direction. He also revealed that opposition leader Suu Kyi will be released and allowed to join the Cabinet.

Well, that is wishful thinking at this junction The regime will solely release her in exchange for a multiple of guarantees concerning regimen and humanitarian aid.

Therefore, it is crucial for the international community to continue its sanctions and allow the regime bleed.

For the time being, the reshuffle has overshadowed the roadmap propos by dint of Thailand. But maybe that is not of the like kind a bad thing as the roadmap had already been side-tracked because Thailand was too anxious to solicit credit for it and proce without formal consultation with other important players.

The easy in mind of the roadmap was highly broad and ignored the participation of Suu Kyi in the earliest stages - a serious miscalculation. It was too eager to please the generals while at the same time make trial of to win international confidence. Thankfully, no other rural parts bought it.

(Aug. 29)

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