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Aung Zaw is founder and editor of the Irrawaddy magazine. He can be reached at aungzaw@irrawaddy.org

Aung San Suu Kyi recently said to a group of Berlin students during a phone-in with German broadcaster DW-TV that no “meaningful change” has taken place in Burma since the general election in November.
A few days later, the UN secretary-general's acting special envoy to Burma, Vijay Nambiar, flew into Burma to meet with government officials and opposition leaders, including Suu Kyi.
Nambiar said, "The government has made some very interesting statements ... which are very encouraging."

He said he hoped that there would be a breakthrough, though he did not elaborate. He went on to urge Naypyidaw to release the more than 2,200 political prisoners in Burma.Then there was a classic play of the military-backed government showing its true colors. It announced a limited amnesty by reducing all current prisoners' sentences by one year. But only 47 political prisoners were released among several thousands of criminals who enjoyed the president’s “clemency.”