Tragedies such as last year’s cyclone and this spring’s sham trial inevitably draw the world’s eyes to Burma. We should maintain our gaze. Given that the United Nations is aware of the scale and severity of rights abuses in Burma, it is incumbent on the Security Council to authorize a commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.

– Pedro Nikken and Geoffrey Nice, “What the U.N. Can’t Ignore in Burma”, The Washington Post, 2 June 2009.

What do readers think? Is there any chance of “a commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma”? Would the Security Council ever authorise such a body? If so, who would they be hoping to target? Just Than Shwe and the other, say, State Peace and Development Council members? I suppose there would have to be efforts to go through lists like this one. Gathering evidence would be a moumental job. Is it feasible? Or is this, in fact, a pipe-dream from Nikken and Nice? Are we going to see a Burmese deck of cards any time soon?