If most people agree on one thing on the subject of Burma, it is that the national reconciliation process is in tatters following the May 30 arrest of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The 1991 Nobel Peace laureate was ambushed and arrested by the military junta following clashes between her supporters and opponents.

Three weeks later, she is still being held incommunicado , with no hope of release until things go back to 'normal', as the junta says.

Her arrest has come as a deep blow not only to opposition parties and ethnic groups working with her National League for Democracy, but also to scores of Burma observers outside the country.

Not unexpectedly, disappointment has focused on UN special envoy Razali Ismail, whose task its has been to facilitate political dialogue between the two sides. Earlier this month, he completed his 10 ^th mission in three years.

Once hailed as a peace broker, the envoy has increasingly been hit by criticism over what is perceived to be an inadvertent role in providing legitimacy for the Rangoon junta.