Myanmar Takes Small But Hugely Significant Step

[Lite Beer]

COMMENT

Myanmar takes small but hugely significant step

The Nation on Sunday

MYANMAR:-- Today's by-election in Myanmar will certainly not be proclaimed as the world's most democratic.

Even the country's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said she is not confident the poll will be free and fair. But there is no denying, the world is watching Myanmar with anticipation. What's happening in Thailand's western neighbouring country today is generally seen as a positive step forward after years of political oppression.

The current regime under the leadership of President Thein Sein came to power via a general election in 2010 conducted in a highly dubious way. The poll was greeted with an outcry over alleged flaws and irregularities. But as soon as the Cabinet was sworn in, the world watched with pleasant surprise as political and economic reforms, and a reconciliation plan, took shape.

After five months in office, Thein Sein met Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent most of the past two decades under house arrest. That was followed by a decision to let her party, the National League for Democracy, and The Lady herself, participate in today's by-election to fill 48 vacant seats in the Parliament.

Obvious military presence in politics, in the infamous form of a "junta", will continue for the foreseeable future. Civilian supremacy in the military dominated country will remain a lofty goal. With a 25 per cent quota for members of the military in the Parliament, Myanmar's armed forces will keep a significant role in politics. Critics of Myanmar's military, however, have taken heart at its apparent readiness to keep some distance from the administration. Whether that distance will grow or shrink after the election will be a major factor in judging the democratic progress.

Myanmar has had one of the world's worst human rights records over the past few decades, resulting in international sanctions against the country. New limited reforms include a certain degree of press freedom. Many exiled journalists have gone back recently for the first time in more than two decades.

Decades of political wrong turns are hard to undo, and the world has seen false dawns in Myanmar before. Current international optimism, while cautious, has been the most remarkable in years. All will come to nothing if the holders of power allow things to slide. To symbolically encourage more positive change in our neighbouring land, The Nation from now on will call it by the official name - Myanmar.

This is a goodwill gesture, made in response to the signs that the people of Myanmar (formerly Burma) will be able to help shape its future. No matter what the country is called by the outside world, what really counts is responsible freedom for its citizens and open-mindedness by its long-time rulers. Today's by-election may be on a small scale, but it is huge in significance. After all, a first, firm step is always important. We wish Myanmar the best - in its journey towards real democracy

-- The Nation 2012-04-01

[Lite Beer]

Suu Kyi set to make history as Myanmar votes

by Hla Hla Htay

Kawhmu, Myanmar, April 1, 2012 (AFP) - Voters in Myanmar flocked to the polls on Sunday for elections expected to sweep opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi into parliament for the first time as part of dramatic political reforms.

A victory for Suu Kyi would cap a remarkable transformation for the 66-year-old icon of the pro-democracy movement, who spent most of the past 22 years locked up by the junta as a prisoner in her own home.

A crowd of supporters and journalists mobbed Suu Kyi as she visited a polling station in the rural constituency of Kawhmu where she is standing in the by-elections, as voters queued outside, some in traditional dress.

"I'll vote for Mother Suu because I love and cherish her," said 43-year-old labourer San San Win.

"We don't expect anything from her. We're really glad she came to our village," she added.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to a landslide election victory in 1990 but the generals who ruled the country for decades until last year never recognised the result.

The NLD leader, who won the Nobel Peace Prize the following year, was not a candidate herself on that occasion because she was under house arrest.

Her party is contesting 44 of the 45 seats at stake in Sunday's vote -- not enough to threaten the ruling party's majority, but a seat in parliament would give the opposition leader a chance to shape legislation for the first time.

Observers say the new quasi-civilian government wants the pro-democracy leader to win a place in parliament this time to burnish its reform credentials and smooth the way for an easing of Western sanctions.

Polling stations opened at 6:00 am (2330 GMT Saturday) and were due to close at 4:00 pm, with more than six million people eligible to vote. Official results are expected within about a week, according to the election commission.

A 2010 general election, won by the military's political proxies, was marred by widespread complaints of cheating and the exclusion of Suu Kyi, who was released from seven straight years of house arrest shortly afterwards.

In the run-up to this Sunday's by-elections, the NLD complained about irregularities, including alleged intimidation of candidates and the appearance of the names of some dead people on the electoral roll.

"I don't think we can consider it a genuinely free and fair election," Suu Kyi told a news conference on Friday.

She said the irregularities were "really beyond what is acceptable for a democratic election" but stopped short of announcing a boycott.

"We are determined to go forward because we think that this is what our people want," Suu Kyi said.

A gruelling schedule of rallies and speeches has taken its toll on the health of the opposition leader, who cancelled campaigning in the week before the vote after she fell ill and was put on a drip during a visit to the south.

NLD spokesman Nyan Win Saturday said that Suu Kyi was "fine" as she travelled to Kawhmu, about two hours' drive from Yangon, where small groups of jubilant supporters gathered to cheer her arrival.

"She is weak, but we do not need to worry," he said.

Unlike in 2010, the government has invited foreign observers and journalists to witness a vote seen as a major test of its reform credentials.

"This is a crucial moment in Myanmar's history," UN human rights envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana said in a statement ahead of the vote.

"The flawed electoral process of the 2010 national elections, which failed to meet international standards, was a missed opportunity for Myanmar to address its challenges in democratisation. It should not be repeated as Myanmar enters a new and more open era," he added.

After almost half a century of iron-fisted military rule, the junta in March last year handed power to a new government led by President Thein Sein, one of a clutch of former generals who shed their uniforms to contest the 2010 election.

Since then, the reform-minded regime has surprised even its critics with a string of moves such as releasing hundreds of political prisoners and welcoming the NLD back into mainstream politics.

But the continued existence of political detainees, ongoing fighting between government troops and ethnic rebels and alleged human rights abuses remain major concerns for Western nations which have imposed sanctions on the regime.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-04-01

[TomTao]

I have been watching the news on Aljazeera, there was a report on about the election in progress, international observers have been invited and are in place, but they cannot enter the polling boothes, the observers can only interview people after they have voted, international press have also been invited, but the press are not allowed any nearer than 250 meters from the polling boothes. The results of the election will show the openness of the electral process.

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[craigt3365]

Just saw a special on BBC. At least this is a step in the right direction. Best of luck to them.