The landslide victory for Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy, in the by-elections held in Myanmar has confirmed what was already widely known: the iconic Nobel laureate remains as popular with the people of her country since the time she last contested elections, in 1990. Then, the military junta had robbed her of victory, putting her under house arrest for nearly all of the next two decades. This time, she will take her place in parliament as a member of the opposition, but her role is much bigger than that. Her studied decision to contest was crucial for the credibility of the reforms that have been set in motion under President Thein Sein. A former military man, the President was handpicked by the junta to lead the nominally civilian dispensation that would take its place after the 2010 elections. Since then, he has surprised sceptics, critics and even his military backers by his enthusiasm for bringing political change. The NLD boycotted the 2010 election as the junta had devised new rules to keep Ms Suu Kyi from contesting. But with the Thein Sein government taking measured but definite steps towards reform, she signalled a cautious willingness to participate in the process. The emphatic vote for the NLD is also an endorsement of her decision, and reflects the people's will that she play a role in the ongoing transition. Along with 16 members of a breakaway faction of her party who were elected in 2010 along with a clutch of representatives from the ethnic minorities, the NLD's robust presence in Parliament means that for the first time in half a century, the country has an elected opposition.
For sure, Myanmar is still far away from democracy. The parliament is still dominated by the military and its proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party. The ruling Defence Council still retains the power to dissolve parliament, to suspend the constitution at will, and to reimpose martial law. But military members of parliament have several times voted with the opposition. Clearly, the Myanmar military realises that the country needs to change, and that such change has to begin with it. There will be the expectation, both among her supporters at home and internationally, that in her new role, Ms Suu Kyi can hasten this change, but it would be unreasonable to expect miracles. As in Pakistan, there will always remain fears of a military backlash. The world can play a more constructive role by easing sanctions on the country. That in turn would speed the pace of democratic reforms. India, which had sidelined Ms Suu Kyi and the NLD in its eagerness to engage with the junta, now has the task of rebuilding relations with Myanmar's democratic forces.
Keywords: Myanmar elections, National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, Thein Sein, military junta
I recollect the expectations We had in August 1947 about our country.
These were very similar to those expressed by the Hindu and its
readers. Things have become much worse than those before in India
before August 1947. Let us therefore reserve judgment on the
development till 2040 and decide whether it is worse or better than
now . With the type of politicians we have here and Myanmar any thing
could happen.
The election of a member of the parliament who is of opposition party can be seen as a mark of dawn of the democracy shining on the western horizon of the country. The victory for Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy, in the by-elections recently held in Myanmar has confirmed deep faith of people in the institution of democracy. The military rule has done more harm than benefits to the people and country as a whole. The world community is strongly in the support of the democratisation of the governance world over which aims to give supremacy of public in the affairs of the governance and an outcome of which will be free and open economy which the western economies are trying hard to achieve in disguise of democracy. The world will welcome every step in the direction of democratisation of the society. The western countries will surely loosen the sanctions if they feel that the government is ready to adopt changes and modifications in the present governance.
Burma's historic vote signifies two important messages to the world community.Transformational democracy is more successful when the change process is done in a phased manner with proper praticipation of all stake holders under a consultative mechanisms.Such a change is time consuming but avoids a chaotic void as compared to forced regime changes resulting from misconeived and short spiked emotional uprising supported by vested external actors.Probability of success for Burma's tryst with democracy is greater than counterpart countries in middle east.Secondly Burma's change is motivated by the desire to uplift it's economy and not to be left behind in the Asian economic surge especially when sharing borders with two of worlds fastest growing economies.Thein Sein should be commended for walking the first few steps.The editorial is wrong in pointing that India side stepped Su Kyi.India has been instrumental in bringing about change by engaging with Junta to create such a space for her.
Madam Syu kii has won the elections in Burma, and the world hopes that her landmark Victory will hasten the reforms in the neighbor country. She has no majority in the legislature, but the number of seats she has won in the bye elections would amply prove To the military govt and the world outside that the people are behind her. The recent News in the media that our Prime minister is going to Burma soon raises hopes in the Minds of all on positive developments in burma. As indicated in the editorial , this historic Vote in favour of NLD should result in real changes in Burma and the forces of democracy There.
Victory over 40 seats out of 44 in the bi-election is the sign of
inception of democratic reforms in Burma.A Hope for a better future.
A few points:
1. Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest on 20 July 1989, not after the 27 May 1990 elections.
2. The NLD annulled the results of the 1990 elections by demanding the immediate transfer of power instead of drafting a Constitution first, as the military had decreed prior to the elections.
3. Suu Kyi was not ineligible on civil status grounds to stand for parliament in 2010 as she was only under house arrest at the time, and not in prison. Her civil status was the same as in 1990 when she was declared ineligible only because of her alleged allegiance to the British monarch as a result of her marriage to a UK citizen.
4.Myanmar does not have an elected "opposition" since the Parliament is solely a legislature and the Executive or Government is appointed by the President (as in the United States).
5.Under the Constitution, it is not the Defence Council but the President who may suspend the Constitution, "after co-ordinating with the National Security and Defence Council."
Please Email the Editor