The arrest of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi and other top officials of the National League for Democracy, or NLD, should shatter any illusions about the Myanmar government's commitment to reconciliation in that country. The widespread popularity of Ms. Suu Kyi and the prodemocracy forces is a threat to the State Peace and Development Council -- the military junta that has brought neither peace nor development to Myanmar.
Ms. Suu Kyi and her followers must be released immediately and the national dialogue resumed. Since that is unlikely, the international community must be prepared to take strong action against the generals who continue to ignore the will of their people.
The sad recent history of Myanmar is well known. After prodemocracy forces won elections over a decade ago, the military ignored the results and took control of the country. They imprisoned Ms. Suu Kyi and most of her followers in an attempt to break the back of the NLD. The move failed: Ms. Suu Kyi won a Nobel Peace Prize for her commitment to democratic change in Myanmar, and concerted international pressure finally won her release some 19 months ago. Since then, Ms. Suu Kyi has tried to rally her followers despite steady attempts by the military to frustrate those efforts.