Burma’s
by elections in April 1, 2012 have been swept away by National League for
Democracy party led by 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. NLD contested 44 constituencies and won almost
all of it, including 4 constituencies in Naypyidaw that the President U Thein
Sein was elected in the 2010 election. It
was an indication that in 2010 election won by ruling political party Union of
Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) was a sham. Even though NLD won the 44 seats in the
parliament Burmese democrat s have a long way to reach their goal for real
democratic government.
The Burma
new face government which was elected in 2010 led by former General Thein Sein
started to liberalize some restrictions that the previous successive military
regimes never did, such as lifting some restriction on media but still refuse
to allow independent newspapers, allows opposition political parties to give
speeches and organize the people, preparing for suitable economic policy and
appropriate banking system, tolerate the formation of independent students,
workers, farmers unions. Even though the
new government is trying very hard to improve its dragging economy, the practice
to achieve democratic system is still difficult to reach. Lack of democratic institutions, lack of
democratic norms and acceptance of majority rule, lack of minority rights, lack
of independent judicial system and weak
civil society lead to conflict between the government ministries and the
parliament, opposition political parties and the government.
Following
are the conflicts that emerged within March 2012 before the by-election.
1.
Mandalay
Governor (Retired Major General) U Phone Zaw Han was fired after he allowed
Aung San Suu Kyi to give a speech in Aung Pin Lae Arena. Thousands of people attended the rally which
scared the regime.
2.
On
her trip to Tavoy –Beik on March 24-25, the authorities threaten the hovercraft
boats’ owners not to rent their vehicles to the NLD party.
3.
The
No.1 Industrial Minister U Aung Thaung was from ruling Union of Solidarity and
Development Party (USDP). He gave a
comment about Aung San Suu Kyi’s organizational trip which was supported by
more than 100, 0000 supporters. He said, “It (her) purpose is to create
unstable situation like in the Middle East. She wants to show how much she got
the support from the people, she is showing off, it is for her good image, to
show a lot of people support her, for me it is an easy thing, I can call from
here and there, and prove how many we have”.
4.
Recently
the regime allowed the foreign observers from the US, EU, Japan and Asean to
watch the coming by election polls. But
it was difficult to prepare for the foreign team from such a short notice
because the poll will start on April 1st and they have only 5 days
to prepare. On the other hand,
independent Asia Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) executive director Ms.
Somsri Hananuntasuk and her team were expelled by the authority on March 20,
2012. They arrived to Burma on March 16
and gave training to Burmese media and activists how to watch and investigate
if there is a fraud, for that reason they were forced to leave the country.
5.
In
Magwe, NLD representatives requested to get permission from Mage’s authority for
ASSK speech in Magwe but the authority from Magwe said rudely, “You can go and
make it in any grave yard”. When NLD
members were planning to make a place near the Irrawaddy river bank, so the
authorities dig holes in the sandbank to prevent it.
6.
In
Naypyidaw, Zabu-Thiri township everybody can get a electricity when they
deposited 250,000 Kyats but U Kyi who put the NLD sign board in his house did
not get electrical power because of the order given by Naypyidaw council member
U Myo Nyunt.
7.
The
President U Thein Sein told the farmers from Aung Chan Tha quarter, Zabu-Thri Township
that, “I have given you what you need for the advance crop subsidies, now it is
your turn to pay me back”. In the
political party’s registration law it said, “A political party cannot use the state
property, fund, land, vehicles, building and houses, directly or indirectly. If
violated the law the party will be abolished.
8.
Australia Labor Party
MP Janelle Saffin and West Australia Senator Mathias Cormann have been actively supporting of Burma’s democracy
movement but their visa applications to observe the by election were turned
down recently.
9.
Conflict
between the government ministries and the upper and lower house on forming the
committee and subcommittee issues. The
National Human rights commission formed by the President was rejected by the
lower house.
All
these confusions and conflict in the government sector, democratic circle, and
the parliament indicate that the democratic process is still a long way to reach
its goal.
Without
reaching peace and trust to each other Burma will hang on the LDC status and
its rich natural resources and human resources will be exploited by neighboring
countries.
The
current by-election will open the space for the opposition party but the vacant
48 seats will not make any difference.
This election will give an idea of how it will be in the coming election
in 2015. Will the military back regime
allow free and fair election in 2015 ? it is the key question that Burmese have
to ask. The judgment day will be in the
2015 not right now.
In
2010 the ruling party USDA won 129 out of 224 in the Amyotha Hluttaw (House of
Nationalities) plus non-elected military representatives 56.
In Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) USDP
won 259 seats out of 440 seats plus non-elected military representatives 110. That is the reason, the current land slide
victory by NLD only boost the morale of the people and one step forward toward
democracy but not for real change in
this year or the year after.
Burmese
need to work together as a team there will be no government side or opposition
side, no boundary no discrimination practice on other parties or race. If the government or the opposition make a
good move all have to support it, the work which will benefit for the people or
the development of the country. Both the military and democratic forces need to
find a command ground, that is all parties have to work to cease civil war,
working together not for power but for the country development and prosperity. We all need to work together as team mates not
as rivals.
Htun
Aung Gyaw
No comments:
Post a Comment