The change itself indicates that the military government regards itself as a transitional or a caretaker government, exacting a step-by-step transformation to democracy it cherishes for the entire nation.  If the military government intends to hold on to the power as it has been accused by the western governments, changes in the name of the government or members of its administration are not necessary.  It is a change of substance, entity and identity.

The military government is systematically moving towards her main objective of a modernized, well-developed and peaceful nation within a solidified union and supportive economic infrastructure.  To reach her ultimate goal, Myanmar intends to move phase by phase.

The first phase during the SLORC administration was to restore and establish Law and Order in the country since the national crisis in 1988, with a view to national reconciliation, stability, tranquillity and to initiate the transformation to a multi-party democratic system with a market-oriented economy from a socialist one-party system and a centralized economy.  Now, in phase two, SPDC will strengthen and maintenance of peace and stability, while reinvigorating all-round development in the country.  Myanmar is also very much interested in meeting her commitments to become as developed as the senior ASEAN countries and with this in mind, she intends to give high priority to the promotion of her economic sector.  Myanmar also believes that in order to become a disciplined and functioning democracy in the near future, she first will have to create a strong infrastructure in economic and security, enabling the emergence of a middle class.  This is one of the main reasons for her priority in the development of her economic sector in this second phase.  Simultaneously, in the process of spearheading the peace and development initiatives as the name implies, the drafting of the new constitution will also be completed and elections will take place in the next phase.

Unfortunately, we have been inescapably stuck in the first phase much longer than we initially have expected, due to unnecessary pressures and problems created from within the country and abroad.  The economic sanctions and embargoes imposed on Myanmar by the western countries are like putting obstacles and hurdles on our path to democracy.  Ironically, it is the same western nations that are criticizing Myanmar for not being a democracy.  Being resultant, the essence of the change is nothing, but a systematic step-by-step process in meeting her preparedness for the transition to a disciplined and functioning democracy.