Burma has no oil or highly valued natural resources therefore its internal politics are of little interest to major world powers. What natural resources it does have, primarily timber, are sold off by the junta to neighbours such as Thailand, hence the relative non-involvement by these neighbours in Burma's affairs and hence the small amount of foreign currency available to fund the junta's military in order to oppress its own people. If a Suu Kyi regime came to power perhaps its foreign trade policies would change to the detriment of these neighbours of Burma hence their support, tacit or otherwise, for the junta.

PK, Burma was perhaps the wealthiest south/south-east Asian economy prior to the 1962 coup and has been driven backwards by the military. It has no hope of modernising under military rule, their so-called economic development plan is based on small-scale agriculture. It would have been in the economic interests of Burma's neighbours for it to develop as they have, expanding the regional market.

Sadly, Chris's analysis is accurate. The military see nothing to gain from diluting their power, and as they are not interested in the welfare of the Burmese people, they have no incentive to change.

If burma had the worlds second largest oil reserves, regime change would be the top priority for the coalition of the willing.

If the leader of the National League for Democracy had been a man, would he have been treated so badly by the blokes-in-charge?
Burma had been a wealthy country several decades ago - maybe the blokes are afraid of losing their income
Tregenna