Credibility of Myanmar elections
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury
Myanmar, the south east Asian nation, has finally staged an election after two decades amidst deep skepticism about fairness of the balloting. But the main question that revolves round the polls is whether the results would be acceptable both within and outside the country. When the outcome of the November 7 voting would be known is somewhat uncertain since the authorities have only tersely said that the results would be announced "in time", meaning no specific time has been set for the purpose. This uncertainty, however, is not much of a concern of many since the elections lacked the normal characteristics of polls in democratic ambience even though the ruling military junta called them as "truly democratic" that would reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people. Nevertheless, the nation largely known as a "closed country" with its scant links with the outside world like another reclusive nation, communist north Korea, has held polls and that itself is being seen as a development in the country regardless of the controversies surrounding the voting.
Myanmar, still known by its previous name "Burma" has a long history of military rule that goes into an uninterrupted 48 years and its is assumed that the nation may wear a mask of representative government following these elections. The wind of democracy is sweeping the world and the several countries in the south east Asian region like the largest in terms of population, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines have embraced democratic rule not too long ago. But Myanmar thwarted calls for democracy from both inside and outside quarters and the military junta has clung to governance and at times ruthlessly suppressed movements for popular governments. Last time elections took place in the country prior to Sunday's balloting was in 1990 when the voting was seen as free and fair in the standard of the third world countries. The national League for Democracy led by Aung Sun Suu Kyi had won a landslide but was denied power as the junta cancelled the results. Myanmar since that time has been rejecting the calls for establishing democratic values as the country emerged as the nation that has willfully and mercilessly trampled democratic aspirations. Suu Kyi continued her relentless struggle for involving people in governance and went on to win the Nobel prize for peace. But Yangoon authorities showed no mercy to her as she was kept under custody or internment for most part of all these years. She or her party have not taken part in the just-concluded polls as under the elections laws she is serving prison terms and her party is not a registered political organization. Well, her party chose not to register itself as it found the laws too stringent and undemocratic. Later, the party also gave a call for the boycott of the elections.
How can the polls in Myanmar be credible when the political party that cleanly won the last elections was not in the fray this time because of attitude of the authorities ? As the icon of the democratic struggle Aung San Suu Kyi was barred from taking part in the polls, there is hardly any likelihood that the balloting would be credible. Furthermore, some political parties sprung up in recent times with an eye on the upcoming elections and one party was clearly patronized by the junta. Myanmar is ruled by a council named "State Council for Peace and Development". There is belief that the junta-backed "Union solidarity and Democratic party" would emerge victorious and in the process the junta would continue its rule effectively even though there would be façade of representative rule. Several high ranking military officials resigned their positions before the elections to contest the polls and it goes without saying that the whole exercise is designed to have junta's men at the helm after the voting. However, it is also believed that some democratic norms may emerge nonetheless since the entire affair is being calibrated in the name of democracy. The elections laws were such that taking part in the polls was also cumbersome since a candidate had to pay a fee of US dollar 500 which is quite high for ordinary citizens. As many chose to stay away from the elections, several organizations did take part, but most of them have expressed frustration over the polls scenario. The turn out was not much encouraging as 40,000 polling stations were opened for ten-hour voting.
Questions that come to the fore include why the junta has at all gone for the elections since it does not seem to be willing to stage a real democratic polls? The mounting international calls for democracy and release of democratic leader Suu Kyi definitely put the authorities in Myanmar on a tight rope and they had to evolve a mechanism to help shake off at least some of their "tainted image" by not allowing popular rule for several decades. The West and the democratic world have described the Myanmar polls as "sham" as the main political leaders were kept away from the elections and foreign media was not allowed to enter the country for coverage. United States president Barack Obama while in India on an trip called for release of Suu Kyi whatever is the outcome of the Sunday's elections. Probably, the authorities cannot afford turn a blind eye to such calls and hence is the façade of democracy. This conditions notwithstanding, an election in Myanmar even if its is "façade" or "charade" will hopefully contribute to a meaningful election in our neighbouring nation eventually and let us all hope that such a development would not take a long time. The November 7 balloting would be worthwhile only in that context regardless of its results.
zaglulbss@yahoo.com
Myanmar, the south east Asian nation, has finally staged an election after two decades amidst deep skepticism about fairness of the balloting. But the main question that revolves round the polls is whether the results would be acceptable both within and outside the country. When the outcome of the November 7 voting would be known is somewhat uncertain since the authorities have only tersely said that the results would be announced "in time", meaning no specific time has been set for the purpose. This uncertainty, however, is not much of a concern of many since the elections lacked the normal characteristics of polls in democratic ambience even though the ruling military junta called them as "truly democratic" that would reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people. Nevertheless, the nation largely known as a "closed country" with its scant links with the outside world like another reclusive nation, communist north Korea, has held polls and that itself is being seen as a development in the country regardless of the controversies surrounding the voting.
Myanmar, still known by its previous name "Burma" has a long history of military rule that goes into an uninterrupted 48 years and its is assumed that the nation may wear a mask of representative government following these elections. The wind of democracy is sweeping the world and the several countries in the south east Asian region like the largest in terms of population, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines have embraced democratic rule not too long ago. But Myanmar thwarted calls for democracy from both inside and outside quarters and the military junta has clung to governance and at times ruthlessly suppressed movements for popular governments. Last time elections took place in the country prior to Sunday's balloting was in 1990 when the voting was seen as free and fair in the standard of the third world countries. The national League for Democracy led by Aung Sun Suu Kyi had won a landslide but was denied power as the junta cancelled the results. Myanmar since that time has been rejecting the calls for establishing democratic values as the country emerged as the nation that has willfully and mercilessly trampled democratic aspirations. Suu Kyi continued her relentless struggle for involving people in governance and went on to win the Nobel prize for peace. But Yangoon authorities showed no mercy to her as she was kept under custody or internment for most part of all these years. She or her party have not taken part in the just-concluded polls as under the elections laws she is serving prison terms and her party is not a registered political organization. Well, her party chose not to register itself as it found the laws too stringent and undemocratic. Later, the party also gave a call for the boycott of the elections.
How can the polls in Myanmar be credible when the political party that cleanly won the last elections was not in the fray this time because of attitude of the authorities ? As the icon of the democratic struggle Aung San Suu Kyi was barred from taking part in the polls, there is hardly any likelihood that the balloting would be credible. Furthermore, some political parties sprung up in recent times with an eye on the upcoming elections and one party was clearly patronized by the junta. Myanmar is ruled by a council named "State Council for Peace and Development". There is belief that the junta-backed "Union solidarity and Democratic party" would emerge victorious and in the process the junta would continue its rule effectively even though there would be façade of representative rule. Several high ranking military officials resigned their positions before the elections to contest the polls and it goes without saying that the whole exercise is designed to have junta's men at the helm after the voting. However, it is also believed that some democratic norms may emerge nonetheless since the entire affair is being calibrated in the name of democracy. The elections laws were such that taking part in the polls was also cumbersome since a candidate had to pay a fee of US dollar 500 which is quite high for ordinary citizens. As many chose to stay away from the elections, several organizations did take part, but most of them have expressed frustration over the polls scenario. The turn out was not much encouraging as 40,000 polling stations were opened for ten-hour voting.
Questions that come to the fore include why the junta has at all gone for the elections since it does not seem to be willing to stage a real democratic polls? The mounting international calls for democracy and release of democratic leader Suu Kyi definitely put the authorities in Myanmar on a tight rope and they had to evolve a mechanism to help shake off at least some of their "tainted image" by not allowing popular rule for several decades. The West and the democratic world have described the Myanmar polls as "sham" as the main political leaders were kept away from the elections and foreign media was not allowed to enter the country for coverage. United States president Barack Obama while in India on an trip called for release of Suu Kyi whatever is the outcome of the Sunday's elections. Probably, the authorities cannot afford turn a blind eye to such calls and hence is the façade of democracy. This conditions notwithstanding, an election in Myanmar even if its is "façade" or "charade" will hopefully contribute to a meaningful election in our neighbouring nation eventually and let us all hope that such a development would not take a long time. The November 7 balloting would be worthwhile only in that context regardless of its results.
zaglulbss@yahoo.com