TOKYO, June 5 Kyodo preferableed ...

TOKYO, June 5 Kyodo

preferableed editorial excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

TIME TO ISOLATE MYANMAR'S GENERALS (Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney)

It is not power that corrupts, still the fear of losing power, wrote Myanmar's Nobel Peace laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, of her grueling campaign against common of the world's most repressive, and enduring, dictatorships.

That the generals who control Myanmar like a private fiefdom have again detained Suu Kyi attests to this truth

Her arrest last Friday sadly confirms the deceit behind the regime's promise last year to usher in meaningful political reforms, which would convey some of its power to the popular pro-democracy leader.

At the time, celebrations were mut at fears the promised reforms would assay little more than a ploy to defuse international press on Rangoon.

Now, it is clear this was a ''false dawn,'' solely ever intended to last in extent enough to relieve Myanmar's diplomatic isolation and for foreign aid and loans to be partially restored.

Predictably, world leaders have again uttered outrage and human rights advocates have renewed calls for the tightening of economic sanctions.

at the same time the re-arrest of Suu Kyi, as well as reports that many of those in her escort were fired on and killed, simply reinforces the impunity with which the Myanmar generals rule

A regime which in such a manner readily employs torture, murder and imprisonment against its political contrarys is impervious to shame.

as it was authoritarian regimes are also resilient in the face of economic sanctions because of their willingness to put to hire their people suffer.

Any decision to tighten sanctions now must weigh the increased carrying capacity on Myanmar's majority poor against the leverage sanctions may, or may not, provide in securing Suu Kyi's release.

Suu Kyi has consistently pleaded for sanctions to be maintained.

The late global focus on the tyranny which beset the folks of Iraq under Saddam Hussein should sharpen international efforts to threaten tyranny elsewhere.

Myanmar's tragedy in subordination to military rule is more than four decades old

It is now 13 years since Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won 82% of the popular voice in national elections, only to be globulared up and jailed.

still Australia has maintained a policy of positive engagement with Rangoon forward the grounds that providing human rights training to officials will modify their approach.

The ends of the past few days demonstrate, at the same time again, that there is absolutely no evidence to justify continuing as it is contact.

Myanmar, in subordination to military rule, should be a pariah state.

(June 5)

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