Nearly two decades have elapsed since Suu Kyi, the daughter of independence hero Aung San, took a stand against the Rangoon generals. She still remains the symbol and hope of the democratic voices inside Burma.

The junta leaders headed by General Than Shwe rule with an iron fist in a land that was once considered to have the greatest potential in Southeast Asia. Aung San Suu Kyi, now a Nobel Peace laureate, has been in detention for more than 11 of the last 17 years. A government-sponsored plan to kill her was revealed three years ago during a rare occasion when she was briefly released from detention.

The military's actions against her and her supporters have toughened her, but the junta has reportedly resolved never to yield or allow Burma to become a democracy. Internationally, this has brought Suu Kyi much support, plus a flood of calls for the Burmese junta to free her. Recently, nearly 60 former leaders from around the world signed a letter of appeal, urging the junta to free her. Never before has a female political prisoner's plight become a cause taken up by so many world leaders.

Today is Suu Kyi's 62nd birthday. It is a good time to take stock of what has transpired in Burma, once the rice bowl of Southeast Asia. The military leaders have spent billions of dollars creating a Disney-like capital at Naipidaw, deep inside the countryside, to avoid scrutiny from locals and foreigners. In one of the world's poorest countries, the Burmese people continue to suffer from economic underdevelopment, lack of proper education and basic healthcare. Instead of going to school, thousands of young children are forced either to fight against numerous rebel groups or are taken for forced labour.

In the past few years, the junta has earned huge amounts of foreign revenue from oil and gas exports, with prices jacked up many times over. With rich mineral resources, energy hungry countries have been attracted to Burma despite the repressive nature of the junta. Just a few weeks ago, the military leaders announced plans to build a nuclear-power plant with assistance from Russia. At this point, it is hard to say whether the Burmese junta has a more sinister plan in mind - perhaps taking the first steps to arm itself with nuclear weapons. This is a cause for great concern for the region and it could set off a regional race to acquire nuclear technology in the near future.

As long as Aung San Suu Kyi remains incarcerated, Asean's reputation and the group's international standing will be tarnished. Asean leaders have repeatedly appealed to the Burmese junta to free her, but to no avail. Indeed, since it was admitted to Asean a decade ago, Burma has failed to integrate fully with the group. The overall goodwill and family-like atmosphere of the organisation have failed to strike a chord in the minds of the Burmese leaders.

Today, Burma is the black sheep of Asean. Without any current provisions for sanctions, Burma will remain as intransigent in the future as it is today. The draft of the Asean Charter has failed to incorporate various measures for sanctions, suggested by some in Asean. We, and the democratic-minded people of the region, wish Aung San Suu Kyi a happy and healthy birthday, and offer her our support in her continuing fight for democracy on behalf of the Burmese people.