Myanmar elections will test if democracy gets a foothold

[rooster59]

Myanmar elections will test if democracy gets a foothold

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar voted Sunday in historic elections that will test whether popular mandate can loosen the military's longstanding grip on power, even if opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party secures a widely-expected victory.

People lined up in Buddhist temples, schools and government buildings since early hours to cast their votes in what election monitors called "a remarkable day" full of excitement and energy.

Among the early voters was Suu Kyi, the first time she has voted in an election. She was under house arrest during the 1990 polls that her party won, but which were rejected by the ruling junta. She was still under house arrest when the next elections were held in 2010, which her party boycotted, and she didn't vote in 2012 by-elections.

Wearing her trade-mark Thazin flowers in her hair, a smiling Suu Kyi arrived at the polling station near lake-side residence where she was mobbed by hundreds of journalists. She quickly cast her vote and left without speaking to reporters.

"In general, these elections are important because they are the first real indicator of whether the democratic transition is going to take a big step forward or remain in a quasi-civilian middle ground for years to come," said Thant Myint-U, a historian and government adviser.

About 30 million people are eligible to vote for more than 90 parties that are contesting. The main fight is between the National League for Democracy, led by Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi, and the ruling Union Solidarity Development Party, made up largely of former junta members. A host of other parties from ethnic minorities, who form 40 percent of the country's 52 million people, are also running.

"I've am so excited to come to vote. I couldn't sleep the whole night, so I came here early," said Ohnmar, a 38 year-old woman who goes by one name. "I came to vote because I want change in my country. I think Aung San Suu Kyi will win if this is a real free and fair election."

The election is seen as Myanmar's best chance in decades to move toward greater democracy if Suu Kyi's party secures the highest number of seats in the bicameral Parliament and gets the mandate to govern. But the NLD starts with a handicap: of the 664 seats in Parliament, 25 percent are reserved for the military.

This means in theory the USDP, with the military's support, need not win an outright majority to control the legislature. To counter that scenario, the NLD would require a huge win.

That may not be farfetched, given Suu Kyi's popularity.

But, winning the election would only be the first step toward full power for Suu Kyi's party. After the polls, the newly elected members and the military appointees will propose three candidates, and elect one as the president. The other two will become vice presidents. That vote won't be held before February.

Suu Kyi cannot run for president because of a constitutional amendment that bars anyone with a foreign spouse or child from holding the top job. Suu Kyi's late husband and sons are British.

Also, the military is guaranteed key ministerial posts — defense, interior and border security. It is not under the government's control and could continue attacks against ethnic groups. But critics are most concerned about the military's constitutional right to retake direct control of government, as well as its direct and indirect control over the country's economy.

Richard Horsey, an independent Myanmar analyst, said that given the powers it has, the military will not be too perturbed about allowing transfer of power to the NLD if it wins.

"But that's not to say the relationship between the new administration and the military will necessarily be a strong one. It's very difficult to imagine that anyone will be running the country without having the support of the military," he said.

There are concerns about the vote's credibility, because for the first time about 500,000 eligible voters from the country's 1.3-million-strong Rohingya Muslim minority have been barred from casting the ballot. The government considers them foreigners even though they have lived in Myanmar for generations. Neither the NLD nor the USDP is fielding a single Muslim candidate.

With some 11,000 local and international monitors overseeing 40,000 polling stations, election observers said they are hopeful any attempts at systematic wrongdoing will be spotted.

"It's been remarkable day already," said Jason Carter, a trustee of the Carter Center and a grandson of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He said the observers talked to one voter who had waited outside a polling station since 3 a.m., three hours before it opened.

The elections are also seen as a chance for Suu Kyi to reclaim what she sees as her destiny.

Her party won just over 80 percent of parliamentary seats in 1990, even though she and her top deputy were under house arrest. A shocked army refused to seat the winning lawmakers, with the excuse that a new constitution first had to be implemented — a task that ended up taking 18 years.

The 2010 vote, which was boycotted by the NLD, ended the junta era — which had begun in 1962 — and ultimately installed President Thein Sein, a former general who began political and economic reforms to end Myanmar's isolation and jumpstart its moribund economy.

Election laws were eased, and in 2012, the NLD agreed to contest a series of by-elections, winning most of the seats at stake. Suu Kyi was elected a member of parliament for a suburb of Yangon.

She appears set to march back into Parliament.

"I think the country will be better if the party we chose or the leader we chose actually becomes the leader. I'm voting for NLD. That's my choice," said first-time voter Myo Su Wai.

-- NNT 2015-11-08

[steven23]

Some facts that good to know:-
1) Aung San, her father is the first default leader of the military regime. Since in power, even under his rule, military has taken very cruel activities towards minority races in Myammar. A lot of her "special privilege" in her life come from his father and those in power oppressing Myammar people.
2) Aung San lost his throne to one of his general in power struggle in Myammar. His daughter Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested. However unlike thousands of monks and students, she was not put in special prison whereby many were tortured to death. She was put in house arrest, not because of her UK husband, but mainly because Generals simply do not take extreme actions against family of those in their group that lost power.
3) She is a leading figure of Myammar people hope, as her father had the status of national savior by gaining independent from UK.
4) She has persistance in her view and stand firm on democracy reform for her country. However in this elections, she had forsake those fighting for human right and democracy for decades, instead put in candidates that had done well commercially and link strongly in business with military.
5) It is also strange, Myammar Prime Minister working for reform and democracy was arrested in the midst of night, unannounced and uncharged, not long having alliance with her. However no action against her.
I sincerely hope my doubt is wrong. Hope she is truly what the world painted her to be, a champion for Myammar people, as a lot are suffering in Myammar.

[steven23]

Some facts that good to know:-

1) Aung San, her father is the first default leader of the military regime. Since in power, even under his rule, military has taken very cruel activities towards minority races in Myammar. A lot of her "special privilege" in her life come from his father and those in power oppressing Myammar people.

2) Aung San lost his throne to one of his general in power struggle in Myammar. His daughter Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested. However unlike thousands of monks and students, she was not put in special prison whereby many were tortured to death. She was put in house arrest, not because of her UK husband, but mainly because Generals simply do not take extreme actions against family of those in their group that lost power.

3) She is a leading figure of Myammar people hope, as her father had the status of national savior by gaining independent from UK.

4) She has persistance in her view and stand firm on democracy reform for her country. However in this elections, she had forsake those fighting for human right and democracy for decades, instead put in candidates that had done well commercially and link strongly in business with military.

5) It is also strange, Myammar Prime Minister working for reform and democracy was arrested in the midst of night, unannounced and uncharged, not long having alliance with her. However no action against her.

I sincerely hope my doubt is wrong. Hope she is truly what the world painted her to be, a champion for Myammar people, as a lot are suffering in Myammar.

[fxe1200]

Even after the elections, the military will hold 25% of all seats in the parliament. Every decision of the parliament can be vetoed by the "National Defence and Security Council", which is dominated by the military. Constitutionally above that council, the head of the army can legally take power over parts of or the whole country, if the army decides, that the security and/or integrity of the country is at stake. The army also decides, how much of the state budget will be theirs. With these elections the global community is being deceived.

[Yooyung]

Is this the only discussion about a pretty important subject within the context of the new ASEAN reality that is just about to unfold????? I cant believe that Thaivisa doesn't have a more significant thread??? Am I missing something??? Please enlighten me.

[simon43]

...a champion for Myanmar people...

Is she?

More like 'a champion for Burman people'. Ask many of the non-Burman ethnic groups what they think of her and it won't be positive.