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Published on October 2, 2007

"There are some different points between the '88-uprising and now. For example, we have clear leadership roles, a clear goal and lots of international interest which we did not have in 1988, said Htay Kywe of the 88-Generation Student Group who is leading the current demonstration from his hideout office in Rangoon.

Many who were involved in the 1988 uprising, including this correspondent, agree with him. When were on the streets 19 years ago we had no clear leadership but now the Htay Kywe-led 88-Generation Student Group and the alliance of all Burmese Buddhist monks are clearly leading the demonstrations against the regime. In addition, the imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) Party are standing by ready to run the country if necessary.

If one looks back at the six-week long demonstration, one can see the differences. First, the 88-Generation Student Group leader Min Ko Naing led 500 demonstrators onto the streets of Rangoon on August 19 and shouted, "We are staging this demonstration to reflect the hardships our people are facing due to the government's fuel-price hike". Second, some of his followers have continued to lead the demonstration even though he and dozens of other leaders were arrested. Third, youth members of the NLD joined with the 88-Group in Rangoon demonstrations, while local NLD leaders are leading new demonstrations in their areas even though their headquarters are inactive. Fourth, no demonstrators reacted when riot police or the government-backed mob beat them.

These were not actions taken by an angry mob, but they were systemically planned. After a month of small-scale demonstrations, their movement reached a turning point on September 17 when the alliance of all Buddhist monks in Burma demanded that the junta apologise for the monks who were beaten in Pakukku.

From then until now, tens of thousands of monks have led peaceful demonstrations, which have spread out, from Rangoon to the whole country. Even though riot-police have killed at least 30 demonstrators, including a Japanese video-journalist, thousands of young men are still on the streets everyday. From his hideout, Htay Kywe said he appreciated the reports filed by Burmese journalists in exile, who have been working for over a decade in foreign-based short-wave radio, satellite TV and the Internet. He said that his colleagues living overseas were struggling together with him against the military junta.

The media coverage provided by those in exile is crucial given the current unrest, even though the junta wants to keep out all foreign journalists. If we compare the news coverage back in 1988, we could only listen to a few minutes on the subject on the BBC's Burmese service. This time, four short-wave radio stations, a satellite TV channel broadcasting to Burma and the Democratic Voice of Burma TV and radio provide non-stop reports from inside Burma.

"When I saw the Japanese journalist shot by a soldier at close range, I was in shock and could not believe my own eyes," was a typical reaction by those who have seen the video footage of the shooting.

"It is very important to let the international community know what is really happening in our country," lamented Htay Kywe, who compared the media coverage with 30 dead, to the 3,000 dead in 1988. "That is why the United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting. That is why Mr Gambari is coming here" he said.

However, this is not the first time Gambari has been to Burma, but the third. No progress was made during his last two trips, but this time many are expecting a breakthrough. But the question is: can Gambari change the die-hard attitude, which has refused to comply with the UN's suggestions for the past 19 years.

"This time, the military might be divided with some of them joining our side if we can hold on for more weeks on the streets", said Htay Kywe. Rumours are also thick of disagreements between General Than Shwe and his deputy General Maung Aye.

Therefore, to reach their goal of regime change, Htay Kywe and his colleagues, including this correspondent, need to speed up their activities. The UN-led international community needs to do more as well, at least determine what action it plans to take if the regime does not follow their suggestions this time.

The time is now running out to strike upon a golden opportunity, which comes once in two decades. A failure on each side will mean that the regime will continue to suppress their own people for another two decades.

Htet Aung Kyaw

Oslo

Htet Aung Kyaw is a senior journalist for the Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma radio and TV station.