On November 7 Burma will hold their first elections in twenty years. While the world usually views elections in countries that have not been operating freely as a positive step for a country toward democracy and a more open society, these 'elections' blatantly are accompanied by any such transition nor do they symbolize any positive change for the Burmese people. They represent little more than a ploy by the military junta to formally legitimize their rule.
It seems the Generals have learned from their last attempt at elections in 1990. These elections overwhelming voted the ruling dictatorship out of power, with the people of Burma voicing their support for the National League for Democracy. However, the regime did not take well to the loss of power and refused to honor the election results, keeping their iron grip on the country and placing Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the NLD, on house arrest.
This time around it was decided that the election results should largely be determined beforehand to avoid to the troublesome upset of the last attempt. Nick Clegg, the deputy Prime Minister of Great Britain, outlined the division of parliament seats in a seething op-ed for the New York Times Sunday. The constitution implemented by the junta reserves 25% of seats solely for the military. Half of the remaining seats will be filled by loyalists to the regime running in uncontested elections. The voice of any opposition with the luck to win a seat will be drowned out. Furthermore, the regime has ensured no serious opposition even has the chance to participate in the elections.
The election rule bars participation from any candidate with a criminal record. While this wouldn't sound altogether outlandish in many democracies, a similar proposal is on the ballot in my home state of Michigan this November, one must account for what The Guardian estimates to be 2183 political prisoners. Furthermore, parties are now required by law to dispel any incarcerated party members. Thus, the National League for Democracy, the regimes largest competitor, was dissolved by the government last month for refusing to reject leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has been on house arrest since her party won the last elections twenty years ago.
Last month, Win Tin, a founder of the National League for Democracy declared in a I.H.T. Op-ed for the New York Times that his party was boycotting the elections. The party and their ethnic allies see these elections as a tool of the regime to permanently legitimize military rule and widespread participation merely serves to make the intrinsically flawed process seem legitimate and fair. Win Tin insists the elections are in no way democratic but rather an attempt to please the international community while solidifying rule.
This is definitely a prime example of "illegitimate democracy." Various authoritarian regimes employ this propaganda tool. They hide behind elections, falsely claiming a democratic regime, and point to it as proof of their democratic processes when outsiders question the of validity said elections. A truly democratic government isn't just having elections and providing a venue for citizens to voice their opinions, its one which actually listens to what the citizens are saying and makes an effort to employ these ideas, fears, etc into actions and policies. We need a better working definition of "democracy" before we can go around labeling governments as such.
ReplyDeleteThis situation also points to the lack of a viable infrastructure, in that the government is not responsive to the governed, and furthermore, it locks away anyone who speaks out against it. This structure effectively creates an idea of 'prison' which runs counter to that in the US. In countries like Burma, prison sentences are often arbitrarily assigned by the government as a way to stifle free speech and challenges to the government, rather than arrived at via a court of law through evidence and a fair trial, as is done in the US.
-Michelle Consorte
I thought this was an interesting follow-up to your post: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101108/ap_on_re_as/as_myanmar_election
ReplyDeleteProbably to be expected...
-Michelle Consorte