Myanmar – Mixing hope with realism

Dr. Zarni from the Human Security and Civil Society Unit of the Department of International Development LSE was sceptical and pessimistic about the political changes taking place in Myanmar which have given rise to hope the regime there is embarked on reform which will bring about true recognition of human and democratic rights. In the seminar organised by the Southeast Asia International Affairs Programme on 7th December, he described the various liberalising measures, such as the release of some political prisoners and easing of media control, as not part of true democratisation but just a process of “elite compromise”. The military, he emphasised, is still very much in control and is not converted to democracy or to giving the people their due.