"The Burmese military government?s announcement that a constitutional referendum will be held in May, followed by elections in 2010, has taken everyone by surprise... ?The time has now come to change from military rule to democratic civilian rule,? the state media reported. Democratic civilian rule in Burma? Unfortunately, no one is convinced. We suspect that any transition the junta has in mind would be very much one-sided and would guarantee that regime leaders take off their uniforms but hold on to power..."