On the surface, it seems Asean has adopted a tougher policy towards fellow member Burma. But the grouping?s history, and the West?s new pressure for change in Rangoon, suggest otherwise... "Much has been made of Asean?s apparent new tough attitude towards its troublesome member, Burma. At the December Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur, the grouping called for movement along the Burmese regime?s professed path to democracy; a release of political prisoners, including icon Aung San Suu Kyi; and made plans for a delegation to visit Rangoon in January, to see what the generals are up to. The regime has since postponed the visit on grounds it is too busy. Even when it does happen, don?t hold your breath. The stubborn generals might simply smile nicely for photo-ops with Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar and his entourage, followed by a bit of lip-service about political reforms, a promise to release Suu Kyi sometime and so forth. That way the Asean group doesn?t lose too much face. And the generals can then go back to business as usual, as they have done so many times in the past..."