In her speech, Suu Kyi did not sugarcoat the path ahead for the Burmese people, stating unequivocally: "The road ahead is rough and tough. Democracy is hard to achieve.”  Given the willingness of Burma’s government to overturn the results of elections, as it did in 1990 when Suu Kyi’s party won an overwhelming victory at the ballot box, nothing should be taken for granted.  History could easily repeat itself in the coming national election in 2015.  Next month’s election will be to merely to fill a few vacant seats in parliament.