***Released at last and with the world's eyes on her, Suu Kyi looks to dialogue, not confrontation, with her country's military rulers **

AMONG all the various vehicles which have entered tlie compound of Aung San Suu Kyi's Rangoon home since her dramatic release on July 10. two stand out. The first carried personnel from the US Embassy in Rangoon and two Congressional aides who had flown in from Washington to express their support for Suu Kyi. The other was an Indian Embassy car Evidently. New Delhi wanted to •how Suu Kyi and her supporters that although it maintains correct diplomatic relations with Burma ■ mill lacy Government, its sympathy lies with Suu Kyi and Iter democratic ideals

At first. Suu Kyi's release ' raised hopes of national rec -onciliation in this strife-lorn country Suu Kyi herself was also surprisingly conciliatory. She declared that she bore no grudge against the State Law and Order Resto ration Council (belter known as the SLORC) and the mill tary authorities who had confined her to her home for the past six years Some of them, she said al a press conference in Rangoon a day after her release, were even charming On a more serious note, she went on to de dare Once bitter ene mies in South Africa are now working together for the betterment ol ihetr people Why can't we look forward to a similar process? But Burma s military rulers are no FW De Klerks, at least not yet. In the official media. Suu Kyis release after 2.190 days under house arrest --lias not been given more than a lew lines An Information Ministry official even called it a private affair refusing to make further comments to reporters in Rangoon

Suu Kyi s National League for Democracy once had branches all over the country but following its election vic lory in the May 1989 polls the results of which were never honoured by the SLORC - the military regime closed the party s offices and cowed ns activists into sub mission The tense relationship between the SLORC and thousands of silent but angry Suu Kyi supporters across Burma, with it* population of

45 million, could prove disastrous If the SLORC lets the lid open

Apparently realising this. Suu Kyi - daughter of one of the heroes of Burma's inde pendence movement. General Aung San has. since her release, been consistently calling for talks with the sforc to break the Im-passe. "We have to choose between dialogue and utter devastation." she warned. T would like to believe that the human instinct for survival alone, if nothing else would eventually lead us to prefer dialogue

That call has yet to be an swered. and the more pes slmistic Burma observers point out that the military has a poor track record when it comes to the give and take of a dialogue, either in dealing with the outside world which has consistently condemned Burdia for its hu man-rights abuses, or its own internal rebel forces, which have been offered cease-fire agreements and business op portunities, but no political concessions It lakes two to tango A face-to-face exchange of ideas between her and the generals appears unlikely says a Rangoon-based diplomat

India, which shares a sensitive 1.600 km border with Burma, has played a cautious and diplomatically skilful game in dealing with the SLORC Border trade is booming. especially in Manipur and In May last year, the then army chief. General B.C Joshi paid a highly publicised visit to Burma to discuss bilateral re lauans and security-related issues As a direct outcome of this visit, the Burmese turned a blind eye to Indian troops pursuing Naga rebels across the border into their territory later the same year

India has balanced these security concerns with sup pon for Suu Kyi and her democracy movement At the same time. Suu Kyi has always had a very close rela tionshlp with India She is an alumnus of Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi, where she studied when her mother Daw Khin Kyi served as Burma s ambassador to India

In the early 60s It was during that time, when Suu Kyi was still in her leens, that she acquired her lasting ad miration for the principles of non-violence embodied in the life and political philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi These ideal* earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991

India s stance was demon strated clearly In May this year when Suu Kyi was given the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award lor her struggle to bring peace and democ racy to Burma The Jury that awarded her the prize was headed by Vice President K.R Narayanan whose wife is Burmese, which again em ptiasised India s special rela tionshlp with the country* democracy movement

Most Burmese seem to admire India s cautious but tactful position much more than the smash and-grab attitude of South east Asian mainly Thai and Singaporean businessmen who are rushing into the country encouraged by iheir govern men is io lake advantage of the SLORC s opening up of the economy

A* for India initially It was inclined towards sup

porting the democratic forces against the Junta. But later, goaded by the increasing western and Chinese interaction with resource-rich Burma. New Delhi decided on a more pragmatic, if cynical. two-track approach. Accordingly, It Improved relations with the SLORC And increased trade and economic exchanges as well as military coordination along borders where the two neighbours are locked in a four decade old war with insurgent groups which happen to be ethnic c ousins

Simultaneously. however India kept channels of communication open with Suu Kyi and her supporters. The Ministry of External Affairs says it drew some useful lessons from the earlier fiascos in the Guff War (when it initially tilted towards Saddam Hussein) and Russia (where hasty pro-Communist statement* were made after the abortive coup) and de cided on a more pragmatic approach

In the long run. India* policy may pay off acordlng to diplomats In Rangoon It is also possible that the SLORC

may be compelled to hold talk* with Suu Kyi, sooner or later.

Those hoping for something similar in Burma might have taken heart when, on July 17. a long line of National League for Democracy MPs and local organisers came out of the woodwork and walked into the compound of Suu Kyi's house. The MPs. who were elected In 1989 but prevented from taking power, came dressed in the clothes that distinguished them during the pro-democracy election campaign six years ago: dark longyls. traditional Burmese Jackets and badges with the party emblem. At the same time, a new telephone line was being Installed in Suu Kyi's house to replace the one that was literally cut with a pair of scissors on July 20, 1989. the day she was placed under house arrest Those who wish for democracy in Burma hope that once Unes of communication are restored, anything would be possible

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