RANGOON United Nations envoy Razali Ismail arrives here this week on a mission to revive a critical dialogue between the junta and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi which is believed to have ground to a total standstill.

In October 2000 Razali brokered landmark contacts between the two sides which were aimed at paving the way for democratic reforms to end four decades of military rule in Burma.

But after a surge of optimism prompted by Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest in May, the regime's promises to begin a political dialogue and release hundreds of jailed dissidents have come to nothing.

Despite the distractions of a looming US-Iraq war and the bombing in Bali which highlighted the risk of terrorism in Southeast Asia, the international community is becoming increasingly impatient with the junta.

Ninth visit

In a statement timed to coincide with Razali's upcoming ninth visit to Yangon, the United States hit out at the ruling generals, accusing them of making no progress towards reform since Aung San Suu Kyi's release.

"Given such a positive step earlier this year, we expected that dialogue between the regime in Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi would be well under way by now," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

"We have seen no signs of the discussions critical to the future of Burma," he said, using the country's former name which was dumped by the junta.

However, Boucher reiterated strong US support for Razali's role as a catalyst for change, saying it was "key to a better future for the Burmese people."

UN chief impatient

UN chief Kofi Annan also conveyed his impatience with the glacial progress of Burma's reform process when he announced Razali's visit, which will run from Nov 12 to 16 and include a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi.

Annan was "concerned that the positive momentum generated for the ongoing national reconciliation process in Myanmar... could dissipate unless some tangible progress is made in the near future," said his spokesman Fred Eckhard.

He said Annan attached particular importance to discussions Razali hopes to have with Senior General Than Shwe, leader of the junta which is known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), remains sceptical that Razali's visit will produce any dramatic results but acknowledges his intervention remains crucial.

"It depends on his facilitation. Everybody is hoping for the best, but I cannot say. It really depends on both sides," said NLD spokesman U Lwin

Ready to discuss

"For our part we've already extended our hand and are ready to sit down at the table to discuss any topic at any time. We are waiting patiently. But there has been no response," he told AFP .

U Lwin said there were sporadic communications between the two sides, but "it doesn't mean the starting of a real meaningful dialogue".

Political observers in Rangoon said Razali faced an extremely difficult task in attempting to spur action from the junta which has for many years ignored both threats and promises designed to hasten political reform.

"He happens to be in an unenviable position of being stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea... with an impatient international community demanding quick results on the one hand and a batch of generals who do not feel compelled to change things in a hurry on the other," said one Rangoon analyst.

The junta, which disallowed 1990 elections won by the NLD in a landslide, has repeatedly promised that it is committed to democracy but that the process must be worked out carefully to avoid internal conflict.

"We will not be swayed by sweet words or bowed by threats in the pursuit of our national goal of a peaceful, modern and prosperous state," the SPDC's powerful First Secretary, General Khin Nyunt, has said. AFP