Rangoon- Today in the humid tropicality of the Burmese capital, a heavily perspiring military official from the ruling junta's ministry of readily prepared information announced to waiting journalists that following talks with leaders of the Burmese opposition party, (the national democratic league) the leader of the opposition, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been isolated under house arrest since just after she was born in 1945, maybe released under a strict new government license.
Ms Kyi, whose father led Burma to independence from British rule before being assassinated in 1947, has won every election allowed by the dictatorship and is the rightful prime minister of the country even though she has spent her entire life under heavily secured house arrest.
After hearing the Junta's shock announcement I managed to lose my government appointed minder and make my way to the government provided house of Ms Kyi.
Speaking through the small letter box of her constantly locked door Ms Kyi told me, "I am cautiously optimistic after hearing the news but also a little wary as I have no concept of the outside world and find the wearing of clothes difficult."I then asked Ms Kyi of her hopes for the future to which she replied, "I'd like to see a tree and feel the soft touch of Burmese grass beneath my feet. But most of all I'd like to see this show they call friends."
Wether Ms Kyi ever does get the chance to laugh along with the rest of the world to the zany rerun antics of those lovable New Yorkers will depend entirely on the whim of the country's illigitimate leader General Than Shwe.
The general, leader of the ruling SPDC, has ruled the country ever since Chevron/Total decided they needed a truly democratic government in place before they could build their multi million dollar gas pipeline through the impoverished country.
The world will wait with undisguised apathy to see what effect Ms Kyi's release will have upon this small enclave of the military controlled corporate empire, and hope that maybe one day Ms Kyi gets her wish and comes to know the simple pleasure of friends.
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