The incumbent regime in Myanmar is asking all interest groups, until Thursday, to form political parties and register within 60 days. All unregistered parties will cease to exist under the new election laws. The National League for Democracy (NLD) party has openly boycotted the election laws, and has decided to pursue civil action when the regime abolishes it. Some people view this as courageous, but this decision is shortsighted and irresponsible.

I have just finished graduate study in foreign studies at Tokyo University at the age of 64, going nearly $50,000 in debt, but I have found the knowledge gained from the experience worthwhile. Change is in the wind but not in the way that Aung San Suu Kyi and her colleagues would like.

Whether the world believes it or not, Myanmar is heading for democracy, but the transition will take time. The new form of parliamentary dictatorship could, initially, replace the military dictatorship with the incumbent regime's proxies at the helm alongside limited liberalizations that will eventually open up opportunities toward political democracy in the end.