Philippine general?s 1986 role could be a model for change in Rangoon... "The Philippines"Edsa" uprising against President Marcos?s authoritarian rule inspired Burmese democrats. They followed the news of the peoples? resistance in Manila avidly. They admired the sight of Gen Fidel Ramos atop a tank, leading mutinying Philippine troops supported by thousands of pro-democracy protesters. And as Marcos fled the country and democracy was restored to Southeast Asia?s once most vibrant democratic nation, the Burmese yearned for a similar scenario in Rangoon. Two years later, in 1988, Burma?s democracy advocates had a shot at removing the ruling Burma Socialist Program Party led by despotic Gen Ne Win. But unlike the Philippine resistance, the Burmese failed. No reminder is needed, but that failure has brought untold misery to the nation. And most of Burma?s 54 million people continue to pay the price to this day..."