• 
• 
• 

The decision to continue her house arrest - of which she has already served 14 of her last 20 years in the country - has no logic but is motivated by political purposes to isolate the opposition leader from the planned 2010 general elections, paving the way for the military-backed force to take power.

Suu Kyi's trial for violating her house-arrest conditions also makes little legal sense - based on the action of an American man she has never known, who swam across Inya Lake to spend two nights at the Yangon residence where she was under detention.

It is understandable - if harsh - that American John Yettaw was sentenced for seven years in prison and hard labour for swimming into a forbidden area. But it is unfair to blame Suu Kyi for an action planned without her con- sent or knowledge. The people who must take blame are the junta's security officials who failed to prevent the incident, even though they were stationed there constantly.

Senior General Than Shwe, leader of the junta, cannot use Burma's court of justice as an excuse for the unfair treatment of his political rival, as he intervened in the justice system himself.

The court ordered Suu Kyi to jail for three years; but the head of the ruling junta signed a special order commuting the sentence - reducing it to a year and half under house arrest, according to Home Affairs Minister General Maung Oo.

By doing this, Than Shwe has despoiled his national justice system, separating the country far from the rule of law, a basic principle for a democratic nation. It proves Than Shwe's order is the law of this land.

The court ruling not only detained Suu Kyi, but also completely destroyed the seven-step road map for democracy and national reconciliation.

Keeping her under detention means Burma's first-ever election in 20 years is far from legitimate, as the potential opposition leader is not allowed to participate.

Suu Kyi might not be the core of all problems in the junta-ruled country, but she is a key component in any future democratisation, since she is a leader of the opposition National League for Democracy, which won by a landslide in the 1990 election.

Calling the junta to honour the previous election might be impossible, but allowing her to contest the next election is her absolute legitimate right.

In democratic practice, all political forces must be allowed to join the contest in the election to make the whole political process as inclusive as possible. Democracy is a form of ruling by majority. Society has the legitimate right to vote in its leaders and everyone eligible to run in the contest. If any citizen is separated from the ruler selection process, the ruling cannot be considered a democratic one.

Than Shwe and the Burmese court's decision yesterday meant the country missed a golden opportunity for national reconciliation, which the junta is dying for. It is impossible for the opposition leader and her political forces to reconcile with the military while she is under detention.

Reconciliation happens only under the condition that all concerned parties trust each other and are free to discuss finding a proper solution for the country. It is impossible for people under detention to sit and talk equally with the people in power. What they will do from now on is continue their struggle, with the junta reacting with tough action and perhaps suppression.

In such a situation, Burma will never reach national reconciliation.