Although most political groups in Burma agree that the regime's political process is too flawed to participate in, there is a small minority who take a different view.

Even in the absence of electoral laws and an election date, a small group of dissidents has decided that the election is the only game in town. A few months ago, veteran politician Thu Wai formed the Democratic Party. However, the party has not yet been registered.

“Anyone expecting to contest the election is not allowed to do anything yet,” he said. His party is supported by the daughter of former Prime Minister U Nu.  

Thu Wai, who was also put in jail in the mid-1990s for his political activities, sees demanding dialogue with the junta as just a waste of time.

“If discussions are possible, it is good. But if they are not possible, why should we be wasting time?” Thu Wai told The Irrawaddy in a recent interview. “Only in a legal parliament can we secure the right to criticize what we don't like and to engage in politics.”

The crucial problem is that the game is never fair, not even to a minimal degree. Players—even those who view the election positively—are never allowed to participate in the whole process. Undemocratic and irregular rules drive them out of the game.

This is supposed to be a year in which great things will happen. Yet we haven't seen any movement in a positive direction. Like it or not, however, this is the country's political process.

Even developments from last year, such as the meetings between US officials and the junta and meetings between Suu Kyi and Than Shwe's liaison officer and Western diplomats, are losing momentum.

The news over the past couple of weeks is an indication of what kind of result we can expect from the election.

The ethnic leader Thar Ban concluded his interview with The Irrawaddy by saying: “We are in the middle of a storm far from shore. The election will be just like lightning: It won't provide enough light to help us find our way.”