The military junta's forceful crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Burma grabbed headlines in recent weeks. What began as hope for a free Burma turned into a brutal repression, which silenced images of far worse atrocities. Dozens were arrested in overnight raids as the military establishment reacted brutally to silent protests by the nation's revered Buddhist monks. The forceful crackdown reportedly left 13 dead and about 1,000 detained.

A climate of terror reigns ever since as security forces maintain a heavy presence to thwart even a hint of dissent. Despite all resolutions on human rights in Burma, there exists a condition of utter repression with brazen violation of basic rights and freedoms. The plight of all those put behind prison walls in the recent crackdown remains unknown. Those displaced lie in makeshift camps battling the worse kind of human rights excesses.

For ordinary citizens meanwhile, a cry for democracy means enduring the worst kind of fate. While the world community has expressed outrage over the recent events in Burma, little is being done to change the ground reality. Little wonder then that the junta cares little for world opinion. Equally ominous is the fact that some nations remain reticent in their approach towards dealing with the criminality in Burma.

The solution, quite clearly, does not lie in characterising the Burma uprising as an "internal affair". Instead the champions of democracy should now raise their voices louder than ever before. Perhaps even ask - is broader international consensus and diplomatic pressure an answer to the beleaguered nation's quest for democracy?