In a recent statement, Burma?s ruling military council rejected the conclusions of a report on forced labor in Burma released by the New York-based rights group, Human Rights Watch. The statement attacked the report?s "negative attitude, irresponsible actions and unrealistic expectations," but gave no indication of what it would consider to constitute a more "realistic" assessment of the prospects for change. Moreover, by referring to "unrealistic expectations", the junta?s spokesman seemed to be conceding that forced labor still exists to some extent inside Burma. Indeed, although the military government has officially banned forced labor, it has evidently allowed some room for officials to continue with this practice in rural and remote areas. So while the junta accuses Human Rights Watch of not being "aware of the developments taking place and the cooperation the government of Myanmar has extended to the ILO (International Labor Organization)," it appears that the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) is itself unaware that it is trapped in a system of its own creation-namely, the existing authoritarian political system, which is underpinned by military rule. For nearly forty years now, Burma has been in the grips of a system that has been incapable of a realistic assessment of its own role in perpetuating the country?s many problems.