Destruction of Democracy

P erhaps the world has seen too much in recent years. Massacre and repression in China, war in the Middle East, the breakup of the communist empire in Europe, and the end of the cold war have been striking events that have riveted the world's attention. In the process, however, the world has overlooked the abuses conducted against its people by Burma's military government for almost five years.' In 1988, large popular pro-democracy demonstrations by millions of Burmese galvanized the country's people with hopes for change after decades of economically disastrous and politically repressive military rule by General Ne Win. Their hopes for democracy were dashed that September after the Burmese army crushed the demonstrations with bloody force that killed and wounded thousands of unarmed civilians, and a new version of military dictatorship was installed. Since then, harsh military rule has stamped out most vestiges of pro-democracy political opposition and terrified the population into submission. Elections in May 1990 resulted in a landslide victory for the political opposition. However, the military government ignored the election results and has proceeded at its own pace to reorganize the national government and political structure. The Burmese military junta was dismayed by the award of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize to opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The award cited him for representing all those peoples of the world who strive peacefully to bring democracy and freedom through nonviolent change. How did all of this happen? Why did the Burmese military leadership miscalculate? Are there any prospects for democracy in Burma? A review of

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