If you recall, it was only a few months ago that Burma (officially known as Myanmar) was in the news. The military junta whose brutality towards its own people is only surpassed by its love of bureaucratically ominous sounding acronyms - SPDC, State Peace and Development Council, and SLORC, State Law and Order Restoration Council (It would be comical if it wasn't so terrifying) - opened fire on Buddhist monks peacefully protesting gas price increases.

The international community was outraged. Laura Bush uncharacteristically entered the political arena demanding the government free imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi, and recognize basic human rights. Even China, Burma's main economic supporter, and one of three countries along with Russia and South Africa to veto an earlier UN sanction of Burma, agreed on a "rebuke" for Burma's actions. The UN sent Special Rapporteur (I looked it up, it means, unsurprisingly, someone who compiles special reports) Ibrahim Gambari to bring the full weight of international outrage to the Generals. It looked like Burma's tipping point had finally arrived.

This was the unfortunate news coming from Burma recently. Mr. Gambari's mission to Burma ended in March with a quiet thud. He arrived March 6 for his final visit to the country after months of being put off by the government. They kept him out long enough for the world's attention to be drawn elsewhere. Then they simply took the wind out of his sails. The Generals declared that they were finally implementing their Seven Stage Road Map. They would be drawing up a constitution, holding a referendum on it, and there would be elections by 2010. But the details reveal something different:

- The constitution was drawn up by 1000 appointed delegates who were confined to a convention center during the process;

- The public had no say in drafting it, and the details of it are still not clear;

- The military will hold 25% of seats in the new parliament;

- Aung San Suu Kyi will be unable to hold office or take the presidency (her party won in a landslide two decades ago);

- Criticizing the constitution will get you 20 years in jail;

- Criticizing the referendum will get you 3.

Gambari left claiming, halfheartedly one assumes, progress. His mission is over. Let's hope the Burmese people do better.