Now, more than ever, the people of Burma need the leverage provided by decisive actions such as sanctions that are working to deprive Burma’s military regime, the SPDC, of foreign exchange to fund its nationwide repression, and legitimacy.

The failure of the SPDC to release democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and deliver irreversible steps to reform has exposed its “democracy roadmap” as a lie. The latest development, the convening of an inherently illegitimate and increasingly bizarre National Convention to draft a new constitution, has forced the international community, particularly, governments in Europe and Asia, to re-evaluate their position on Burma.

We hope that these states, realizing that they have been misled by the regime’s overt charm offensive, may now be disposed to take a more active stance on Burma. It is time for these countries to send a clear and very strong message to the regime and to the rest of the international community that they are committed to supporting the people of Burma in their struggle for democracy.