Activists say last week's armed struggle means more resistance against the regime.
For nearly a decade, pro-democracy dissidents vying to topple the military regime in Burma have urged a nonviolent strategy. Now, frustrated by the lack of progress, some in the movement appear to be changing their tactics. On Saturday, after 25 tense hours at the embassy, the renegade exiles exchanged the 38 unharmed hostages, including one American, for safe passage in helicopters to the Thai-Burmese jungle border. They say their action was designed to transform international sympathy for the pro-democracy cause into international pressure on Burma, which is called Myanmar by the current government. Since nullifying a democratic election in 1990, the Army-run State Peace and Development Council has ruled the pariah nation amid charges of gross human rights abuse.