An historic moment for all people of Burma and most of all for Aung San Suu Kyi. Last week she became a member of parliament. This is almost unbelievable, after spending nearly 2 decades under house arrest. Aung San Suu Kyi, the internationally respected leader of the NLD, was released only late 2010. In less then 2 years, the impossible has happened; the NLD is part of the new civilian government.

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Is the Burma government truly taking steps towards democracy? As long as arbitrary killings are taking place in Burma, we need to watch the democracy process critically. Even now, the Burma army kills people in the ethnic areas in eastern Burma, according to eye witnessess of the Free Burma Rangers.

The Free Burma Rangers work in eastern Burma, with a focus on medical health, especially in the so called ‘Black Areas’; the area where the Burma Army used to have orders to ‘shoot to kill’. On the 9th of March 2012, a Karen volunteer of the Free Burma Rangers was shoot dead by the Burma Army in Karen State, while the Burma government have agreed to a ceasefire in Karen State early this year. And even more worrying, while the Burma government  talks about reforms and also international bans are being lifted.

Over the last decades, the Burma government again and again proved not to be able to take true steps on the road to democracy. How will the government of this new government respond to atrocities by their army? Will it put an end to these arbitrary killings, which always occur far outside the eye of the international media?  This will be key to be able to trust the new Burma government. Let them first show their true intention.

If you want to read more about this recent killing inside Burma, please read further on Free Burma Rangers.