20.05.2007
There was once democracy in the Union of Burma
_ By Dr San Oo Aung
Long, long time ago, there was democracy in the Union of Burma, even though it
was quite short-lived, under the democratically elected Prime Minister
Thakin
Nu or U Nu.
Democracy seems a distant utopia now but it was really present during U Nu’s
days. Younger generations of nowadays may not know any other system of
government except the present Military Régime. Even adults younger than 45 years
of age would have been born after Gen. Ne Win’s coup and would never have had
any taste of democracy at all. Only those above 60 years of age can still recall
the sweet taste of democracy under U Nu.
Background History
U Nu born in Born in the Irrawaddy Delta town of Wakema on 25 May 1907 (and passed away in 14 February 1995) was the first Prime Minister of Union of Burma according to the 1047 Constitution from 4 January 1948 to 12 June 1956, again from 28 February 1957 to 28 October 1958 and finally from 4 April 1960 to 2 March 1962. He had to deal with armed rebellion from various groups, especially the communist factions including certain regiments in the Army.
U Nu’s democracy
U Nu voluntarily relinquished the Prime Ministerial position in 1956 for one year from June 1956 to June 1957. He put AFPFL member U Ba Swe as PM. Even U Nu’s temporary transfer of Prime Minister-ship to U Ba Swe and touring of the country to reorganize his party and meeting the grassroots people to campaign and to clean up his party was a great show of democracy. One of the reasons U Nu had given was that if he stayed as the PM while touring the country, there might be conflict of interest in his use of the government vehicles and expenses. His declaration that he did not wish to be seen as corrupted in that way could shame the present day great ASEAN Democracy leaders who regularly use the government budget for many of the election campaigns. They even bribe the electorate with the gifts of development and promise of projects.
Burmese famous journalist U Thaung remarked_
“In 1948, when Burma was freed, 56 newspapers of many kinds leaped up, all battling for development of democratic principles in the new republic. In the earlier time of independent Burma, the people were so united behind the party that brought freedom to them, that there was no large opposition crowd in the parliament. At that time, the “golden age” in the 1950s, the Burmese newspapers constructively played the role of “loyal opposition" to the government by sharply analyzing and questioning the official policies and activities. As the result of a loyal free press, Burma became a union, successful in economic, political and social fields.”
Although under U Nu’s democracy some of the opposition politicians were occasionally arrested with the “Poke Ma Nga” Emergency Act, they all were put into the special B class prisons. No need to work, but to enjoy good food, health care, newspapers, books and radios inside the prison. They were allowed to meet families, given exercise facilities and allowed to even write books.
Economy dreams of U Nu
During the Korean war, the prices of rice shoot up and as Burma was the major exporter of rice, Burma got the windfall foreign-exchange earnings and U Nu had even attempted to create a Welfare State.
In 1952 U Nu promised Pyidawtha Plan _ One day every family would own a house and an automobile and have good average minimum income.
In August of 1952 he also convened the Pyidawtha (Happy Land) Conference at which further elements of the proposed welfare state were announced. Also announced was an eight-year plan for industrial development. And a five-year plan for agricultural development.
Populist U Nu
In October of 1948 the Burmese legislature passed the Land Nationalization Act and U Nu asserted that co-operative farming was the ultimate objective of this legislation. Already, before independence, land rents were limited through the Rent Standardization Act of 1947. The Land Nationalization Act of 1948 allowed the State to take possession of all land that was not being tilled by the owner. But this was at that time a popular step because approximately two-thirds of the rice land was owned by non-resident landlords many of whom were Indian money lenders who acquired the land through foreclosure for debts owed by Burmese farmers. The Land Nationalization Act limited the size of land holdings to 50 acres.
As a devout Buddhist in a majority Buddhist country, U Nu was also popular also in spiritual aspects of his country. He had the Kaba Aye (World Peace) pagoda and the Maha Pasana Guha (Great Cave) built in 1952 in preparation for the Sixth Buddhist Synod that he convened and hosted in 1954-1956 as prime minister.
U Nu’s Neutrality
In the mid-1950s, U Nu together with other democratically elected regional leaders like Indian Prime Minister Nehru and Indonesian President Sukarno, co-founded the Movement of Non-Aligned States, a loose association of nations that accepted aid but refused alliance with either the Western bloc of nations led by the United States or the Communist bloc led by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
Not a Utopian Dream
So there really was democracy in the Union of Burma, albeit short-lived. And so our struggle for the restoration of Democracy is not just a daydream of a distant utopia. As the saying goes_ if there is a will, there is a way.
Comments:
Prof. Abid Bahar said _
Buddhism is a religion of peace. U Nu found democracy in Buddhist spirit of tolerance. The day Burmese people will realize the true spirit of Buddhism different from the military's, they will also accept the formula of democracy and multiculturalism.
C K Soe said _
Yes I accept Ba Gyi Nu as one of our fathers of Democracy in Burma. Thanks a lot.
Your Comments here_
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