By the time while the celebrations of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s release continued within Burma and throughout the civilized world, the regime in Naypyidaw was quietly releasing the lists of the winners of the elections. Regardless of the complaints over voter intimidations, rigged, voting irregularities in advance voting, however, almost all of the winners are the people’s most hated USDP members.

International recognition of the “new government” via the regime’s “sham elections” is the key issue for democratization of Burma. Gen. Than Shwe ought to go on implementing his plan to establish a new government anyhow. His most trusted people are in their positions to carry it out. All of the country’s wealth and natural resources have been privatized and transferred to his cronies under artfully crafted 2008 constitution’s legal process. His attempt to turn the page to new dictatorship rule has about to begin. Everything will go well along with his plan unless Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stands on his way. She is the only obstacle and obstruction on his way forward.

The ethnic minorities’ call for fair and inclusiveness was responded with wars by the regime. The ongoing civil-wars against the ethnic minorities in the borders have never been addressed. Also, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been calling for the releases of more than two thousand prisoners since her release. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon himself has remained in controversial and under severe criticism in this regard. On one hand, he has been criticizing the elections being unfair without releasing of all the political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. On the other hand, he has failed to endorse the US led Commission of Inquiry for the regime’s crimes against humanity, and to call the international community not to recognize the outcomes of the elections as well.

Burma indeed is at the cross-road. Than Shwe’s seven-step road-map toward the elections is pretty much sold in Burma and international community already. Neighbors like China, India and most of the ASEAN member states will recognize the “new government” for sure. EU, in response to our letter with regard to support the Commission of Inquiry, wanted to “wait and see” the “new government” of Burma how well it would cooperate. “New government” is the key word for EU. And, the foreign secretary of the US Hillary Clinton stated the similar one. The people of Burma are like mice in the EU’s laboratory. The bottom line is we the fifty five million of people in Burma are left alone out in the dark and cold.

Once Bill Moyer said, “Only democracy exists only if we claim for it.” No one’s mercy or pity will bring us a democracy the way we wanted. It is quite relevant to mention that our leader Daw Suu call for a “non-violent revolution” in Burma after being freed from years of house arrest. She told the BBC in an interview at the headquarters of her National League for Democracy she was sure democracy would eventually come to Burma, although she did not know when. She said in the interview, published on the BBC website, that she wanted a non-violent end to military rule. “I think we also have to try to make this thing happen… Velvet revolution sounds a little strange in the context of the military, but a non-violent revolution. Let’s put it that way,” she said. She called for the people’s unity to work together in order to achieve the goal.

Consistency, sacrifice, courage and collective movement on part of the people are required in this regard. We must follow her lead and walk together with her. Meantime, we would like to remind the international community with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s words “please use your liberty to promote ours”.