The pattern of detaining, releasing and detaining Aung San Suu Kyi is symbolic of the one step forward, two steps back strategy the regime has perpetrated on the entire country.

I don't want to take one step forward and two steps backward.

We took two steps forward with the reforms in December, and one more step yesterday. But we still have 10 steps more to go.

We are not going to see the true colors of people until they come into power. Obviously there are people in the regime who are more business-minded and pragmatic. But you can't be open about having a moderate position. Any general who says 'I like dialogue' is basically someone who has a death wish.

It's clear that Than Shwe did not come out looking very good.

That's the $64,000 question. Will Than Shwe - if and when he is succeeded - will he be replaced by someone more pragmatic and disposed to dialogue with the opposition?