Long ways to go despite a poll budge towards democracy in Myanmar?
(Madan Menon Thottasseri)
email: tmadan.menon@gmail.com, menon_madan@hotmail.com
Beyond outlook of world, even to sheer disbelief to Aung San Suu Kyi herself, National League for Democracy (NLD) had captured 43 out of 45 seats in the by-poll that includes the secretarial capital, Naypyitaw. This must certainly be due to the deviated thinking of the desperate military-backed regime while hopping to get lifted the sanctions clamped on the indigent nation which is very much lagging behind other flourishing economies in Asia. Aung San Auu Kyi will be aware that the filling up of 45 vacant seats in Myanmar’s bicameral assembly will never immediately put the military-backed regime government in a prejudicial position. NLD must give an emphasis for free press so as to achieve its goals.
Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the living legend and icon of democracy for the whole world, had started her struggle for freedom incidentally on one of our Independence anniversary, on 15th August,1988 by sending an Open Letter to the Burmese military which was running savage regime after the resignation of General Ne Win on 23rd July,1988. The General was the Dictator since 1962. She formed her Party NLD (National League for Democracy) on 24th September, 1988. Despite the house arrest in July, 1990, she could bring victory to NLD 82% of Parliamentary constituencies and was elected as Prime Minister. It was a different storey that the SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) refused to recognize the landslide victory of NLD in the said election.
Can the entire world forget how military juntas had shown scant respects to U.N and the whole spectrum of International Organisations that stood for democracy, human rights, global peace etc. while Suu Kyi, the winner of the European parliament’s Sakharov Human Prize and the Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, both in the year 1991 was not permitted to go in person to receive these awards. She had no other go than to reject the offer to free her provided she leaves politics and the country. She showed the magnanimity to earmark the entire Peace Prize money of US$ 1.3 million to form a Trust for Education and Health of her people. A group of Nobel Peace Laureates wanted to meet her in 1993, but the Military Juntas refused permission for their entry into Burma. They had to compromise to call for the release of Suu Kyi by forwarding messages through the refuges at the Thai-Burma boarder.
Ms. Suu Kyi was initially sentenced to three years in jail and hard labour after a mysterious incident in which an American- John Yettaw swam to her lakeside house. She was held at Myanmar's feared Insein prison but later on was allowed to return to her crumbling family mansion in August 2009 when her sentence was commuted to one-and-a-half years house arrest by Junta leader Than Shwe. The Nobel Peace laureate, who has been under detention for most of the last twenty years, was freed only after the election in late 2010.
World also knows how the new civilian government of President Thein Sein took charge March 30, 2011 after a landslide November 2010 elections. The civilian government had replaced the military junta under Senior General Than Shwe that ruled Myanmar for over 22 years. India ignored a truth that Burmese Juntas themselves hold the regime due to trumpet of results under the theatre performed election in 2010, an exercise only their pro-juntas party considered meaningful. The days after the election were just other days marked by government oppression and hardship for its people.
Of course our External Affairs ministry could see an opportunity to engage the new civilian regime and took stock of broad-based engagements with Myanmar. Minister S.M Krishna signed an MOU on a project to link India's Manipur state with Tiddim in Chin state of Myanmar for more border trade. Further India had offered to cooperate with Myanmar on a trilateral highway to Thailand. Other prime Indian assistances were for setting up of an industrial park and computerization of o Myanmar's land records department to digitalise operations.
U.S President Barack Obama, during his Asian trip in 2010 had commented on the elections in Myanmar stating that it can be “anything but free and fair,” and renewed a call for the military regime to free Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners “immediately and unconditionally.” President Barack Obama had hinted about India’s reluctance to look towards ‘east’ and violation of human rights in the neighboring Burma (Myanmar). It is high time that U.S and the Pentagon encourage stake holders in Burma to engage in dialogue towards national reconciliation. Shall I put forth this question to both President Barack Obama our Prime Minister- Man Mohan Singh…. Why both India and U.S, symbols of democracy had closed eyes to a challenge?Junta had imprisoned Ms. Suu Kyi in her lakeside home for the better part of two decades. Unfortunately India kept aloof from the Myanmar issue and had never even requested for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the icon of peace and democracy, until the elections were held in last year. India belatedly in November,2010 welcomed the release of pro-democracy leader declaring that her release from house arrest will be a step towards the process of reconciliation? Very disgrace that we did not utilize our presence as a guest in ASEAN forum. Let me join with the great Economist Amartya Sen to sob for the Indian stand on Myanmar which is an ignominy to our basic institution of democracy. We should not pretend as if we are unaware of Juntas style of hiding military power under a civilian façade so as to pull back Burmese people to the darkness of 19th century despotism as well as posing a challenge to foundations of democracy practiced around the globe.
Myanmar registered few changes by this time while juntas finally ceded power in last year and few of its leaders could at least swap their services uniforms for civilian outfits. The major breakthrough was visible when they released political prisoners., signing ceasefires with rebels, relaxing press censorship and opening a direct dialogue with Suu Kyi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 while under house arrest.
Now beyond outlook of world, even to sheer disbelief to Aung San Suu Kyi herself, National League for Democracy (NLD) had captured 43 out of 45 seats in the by-poll that includes the secretarial capital, Naypyitaw. This must certainly be due to the deviated thinking of the desperate military-backed regime while hopping to get lifted the sanctions clamped on the indigent nation which is very much lagging behind other flourishing economies in Asia. Aung San Auu Kyi will be aware that the filling up of 45 vacant seats in Myanmar’s bicameral assembly will never immediately put the military-backed regime government in a prejudicial position. NLD must give an emphasis for free press so as to achieve its goals.
Despite being the face of democracy in her country, this will be the first time that Aung San Suu Kyi, popularly known as Daw Suu (meaning ‘Auntie Suu’), is going to hold a public office. Political analysts had never imagined that she would so leap forward to get elected in the by poll and establish to position her for the presidential run in 2015.
Though we all can anticipate that transformation of Suu Kyi's status from a political prisoner to a member of parliament becomes a historic turning point for Myanmar, the people of Myanmar and the world cannot ignore the apprehension of Hilary Clinton U.S Secretary of state – “there are no guarantees about what lies ahead for the people in the country”. Hillary Clinton had rightly noted that it was too early to predict whether the progress made in recent months will be sustained or not.
The enormity of military power in disguise must disintegrate when the consolidated peoples’ mission under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi voice for democracy inside the Parliament. People of Myanmar should get be freed form iron clad administrators and reject concessions for independence or reforms with the support of military. Is it not a disgrace to a nation to provide reserved accommodations for military together with peoples’ representatives and maneuver for complementary roles inside Parliament at the time when the unyielding regime persecutes innocent citizens for protecting national security and then launch reforms?
The regime that invariably hides military power under a civilian facade must take concerted efforts to alter its stance on peoples’ liberation and democracy. It cannot expect the world to close eyes on the plight of people and still come forward to provide trade, investment, technology and what not. Being a neighbor India too will enjoy certain benefits while providing assistance to Myanmar. But to be eligible for any Indian benefaction Myanmar regime must necessarily institute a down- to- earth democracy.
Myanmar’s big threat is the demand of demand for autonomy by four ethnic groups, particularly from the Kachin state that wages armed war for federalism. The fighting had erupted at Chinese border adjacent to a Myanmar-Chinese joint venture hydropower project. Through an open letter to President Thein Sein and to the four ethnic groups viz. Shan,Mon, Karu and Kachin , Aung San Suu Kyi had offered to negotiate for a ceasefire. It is significant that the government had insisted on a ceasefire before political discussions, while the Kachin group is still adamant on political settlement before ceasefire.
Ko Ko Hlaing Chief Political Advisor of Myanmar President who is critical of sanctions clamped on Myanmar had commented that Sanctions are a great barrier for reforms. He had sarcastically disparaged the pressure on Myanmar from overseas and said “the need is not for sticks and whips, but for carrots” by pointing out that the elected regime is committed to reform! Ko Ko Hlaing must know that there will be no need for any carrots too if President Thein Sein’s government show a pliable mind to accept genuine demands of peace-loving people and also listen to good counsels from all quarters for upholding democracy.
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