It is three months since the world called on Burma's dictators to end their brutal crackdown on tens of thousands of peaceful monks and other demonstrators and begin a genuine dialogue with democratic and ethnic minority leaders with the goal of a transition to democracy. The time has come for them to act.
With the strong backing of the UN Security Council, UN special adviser Ibrahim Gambari has made two trips to Burma since the crackdown to try to facilitate a dialogue. Through him, democratic leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has reaffirmed her willingness to participate in a "meaningful and time-bound" dialogue to be joined by representatives of the country's ethnic minority groups.
This is a rare opportunity to help put Burma on the path to democratic civilian rule and to greater stability and prosperity. But while the regime initially made a few unremarkable gestures, such as appointing an official to interact with Aung San Suu Kyi and allowing her to meet once with a few democratic colleagues, it has halted even this hint of progress and, in fact, has moved backward.
It has continued to arrest activists and harass Buddhist monks, recently closing a monastery that served as an AIDS hospice. Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, and the junta has refused her request to have two colleagues liaise with the Government. On December 3, senior regime officials delivered their harshest comments yet, rejecting any role for the Opposition in drafting the constitution, blaming Aung San Suu Kyi for the lack of progress on a dialogue and describing the September demonstrations it suppressed as "trivial".
The US does not regard such violence and the beating, detention and reported torture of peaceful protesters, including monks, trivial. As first lady Laura Bush has said, "It seems the generals are indifferent to the Burmese people's suffering, but the rest of the world is not."
Dialogue would enable the Burmese people, through legitimate political and ethnic representatives, to discuss with the regime ways to broaden the political process, including participation in the drafting of a constitution. This way the results will have legitimacy and popular support. While the regime argues it is the only force capable of keeping the country unified and any change outside its control risks turmoil and instability, the reality is the regime and its policies are the greatest threat to Burma's unity, stability and prosperity.
The military rulers have brought about a steady decline in living standards and a deterioration in educational and public health systems. They have caused a continuing flow of refugees, narcotics and diseases into neighbouring countries, and have so distressed the people, they took to the streets by the thousands despite the risk of brutal suppression.
This is a horrendous track record, but Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic leaders have nevertheless said the Burmese military has an important role to play in a peaceful transition to democracy. With the generals showing no willingness to move in this direction, many in their regime should be increasingly uncomfortable with their policies and the country's direction.
The US wants to see a strong, prosperous, stable and free Burma. We are convinced the only way to achieve this objective is through the sort of broad national dialogue UN special adviser Gambari is trying to facilitate. That is why it is critical China, India, the ASEAN countries and Burma's other neighbours use any and all influence to support the UN effort and press the regime to initiate a dialogue.
The world must not turn its back on the people of Burma and allow the regime's disregard for human dignity to continue. Together, we must apply sustained pressure while making clear a successful political transition would enable Burma to make a full return to the international system.
Nicholas Burns is the US under-secretary of state for political affairs.