Even as heroin production remains high, Burmese traffickers are also diversifying into methamphetamines, which are posing severe problems for neighboring states. As well, traffickers are increasingly investing in legitimate sectors of the economy, and there is reason to believe that the laundering of drug profits is having a substantial impact on the Burmese economy. In the same way, in the past six months the Burmese people have seen little progress in improving their quality of life. In fact, by many indices, their quality of life has worsened. There continue to be credible reports, particularly from ethnic minority-dominated areas along the Thai border, that soldiers have committed serious human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killing and rape.
Disappearances continue, and members of the security forces beat and otherwise abuse detainees.
Arbitrary arrests and detentions continue for expression of dissenting political views. Several hundred, if not more, political prisoners remain in detention, including 29 Members of Parliament elected in 1990. Political party activity remains severely restricted. The activities of the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi are monitored and circumscribed by the regime. In November the motorcade in which she was riding was attacked by a gang of thugs encouraged by elements of the regime.