Fourteen years ago, the streets of Rangoon were filled with hundreds of thousands of triumphant demonstrators chanting over and over again, "We want democracy!"

These chants unfortunately fell on the deaf ears of the generals who only saw the wishes and desires of the demonstrators as a threat to their very existence. The images of horror that were to follow remain etched in the minds of all who were in Rangoon on that fateful day.

But in spite of these horrendous atrocities committed by the Burmese armed forces and their riot police, the mass uprising spread throughout the nation as millions of Burmese marched on their cities and towns, peacefully asking the generals to step down and stop the madness they had already begun.

The calls, however, went unanswered, and instead, more guns were fired and more innocent lives lost. The streets were not to calm until the armed forces again took power in September.

Independent sources estimate that during August and September 1988, approximately 3,000 people were gunned down in Burma.

Courageous decisions absent

Nearly15 years have passed, and the very generals who participated in the suppression of the 1988 uprising are still in power, having never apologized for their actions.

Paradoxically, the generals say they saved the country from disintegration and anarchy that they feel was sure to follow the non-violent protests.

However, no matter how they chose to distort the history of the 1988 democracy uprising, the most disturbing thing is the generals' unwillingness to make the courageous decisions that are imperative to bringing about national reconciliation in Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who recently met with the UN special envoy and Japan's foreign minister, said she is willing to cooperate with the military rulers in any way that will benefit the people of Burma.

Suu Kyi reiterated that she has no objection to foreign aid to Burma as long as accountability, transparency and independent monitoring are guaranteed.

Promise of aid

Suu Kyi's recent gestures are bold and should be given serious consideration by the generals in Rangoon. It has shown yet again that the Nobel Laureate has been flexible when dealing with the recalcitrant regime.

Visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi even said that Tokyo is ready to increase aid, if the junta strikes a deal with Suu Kyi on how to distribute it.

Burma is suffering from both deep economic and social crises, and is in urgent need of development assistance, but without a political settlement this aid will not be forthcoming.

Whitewash job

However, Burma's political impasse again continues, after appearing to have eased upon Suu Kyi's release from house arrest in May as the "talks" between Suu Kyi and the junta's SPDC have gone nowhere. Not to mention the nearly 2,000 political prisoners who remain in prison.

The army's hardline stance and unabated offensives against Burma's ethnic minorities have created even more misunderstanding and deep seeded resentment among ethnic nationalities towards the Burman majority.

Yet, shamefully, the junta hired a public relations firm in Washington DC to help whitewash its tarnished image. Instead of hiring expensive foreign consultants, the junta could simply improve its image by just asking its citizens what steps they feel should be taken.

Individuals who have been held prisoner in their own country for decades could provide some straightforward advice on what changes could be implemented to help ease life in Burma.

If the generals decide to take the necessary steps needed to save Burma — including the appointment of a civilian government led by Suu Kyi as well as the inclusion of the ethnic parties — then the generals can claim they have saved Burma. —GVNN/The Irrawaddy