27.05.2007
Elections, NLD and a New Thuggish Actor
In Burmese Political Theatre
_ By AKS
It has been almost two decades since the last election in Burma was held. It was in 1999 when NLD won landslide victory. Under the collective leadership of Daw Aung San Su Kyi, U Tin Oo, and U Win Tin, people voted for NLD. It is an undeniable fact that NLD won landslide because it is led by U Aung San's daughter, Daw Aung San Su Kyi.
NLD representatives won everywhere, even in constituencies where Tasanya (ex-socialist party BSPP) candidates were expected to win. Whoever contested under the flag of NLD won even if NLD candidates were less qualified than candidates from other parties.
People who were fed up with BSPP’s undelivered socialist promises voted for NLD, people who felt disgusted by TaSaNya because its old badge of BSPP party_ people hated TaSaNya party because it had the support and sponsorship of Burmese armed forces or Tatmadaw. In short, whoever wanted a fresh air and new hope voted for the party of BoGyoke's daughter. People dedicated their votes for her although she did not herself contest as a candidate.
Fast forward to 2007, Burma is still in political dead lock. NLD has been seriously weakened by deliberate malign tactics of the military junta and its proxy organizations like the Union Solidarity & Development Association USDA (Kyant Phon in Burmese acronym).
Un-involved in the national convention (10 years long, and seemingly never ending); NLD top leaders in jails.; Foot soldiers under operational constraints; recruitment drive going down; NLD in early 2000 was at best seen as a paralyzed and spent political force without a head_ although some revival movements are observed recently.
There are rumors that elections are inevitable and on the way in a year or two. Some speculated that since all military regimes suffer from illegitimacy and succession problems, Burmese junta suffers too. And without tangible economic success to deliver, it will have to resort to quasi democratic systems and an elected government where military still can remain itself as a powerful institution with the whole country at its disposal, a core state within a state, a deep state.
But SPDC may be changing. Some acting ministers, colonels and generals in service acknowledge that their government's policies are not working. They might want to see injection of some dose of legitimacy to the under-performing government and a change to boost the ailing economy. Every sane person in Burma knows that it is time for a change now.
They know that Burma is developing at a pace significantly slower than her neighbours. Burma will become the poorest and most backward state in ASEAN gradually. Some of them may feel guilty if they were patriotic enough. Gen. Than Shwe, who appeared to suffer from superiority complex syndrome, might also want to put himself in the good context in the history. So it is very possible that elections are coming and they are around the corner. But are NLD, and all other colorful political organizations in border regions or in exile ready for new election? What will better serve for Burmese? Should we stick to old election results almost two decades ago? Should we boycott the new elections? There are a lot of Should Dos and Shouldn’ts and there seems to be no absolute right or wrong answer yet.
Talking about old election, and the inevitable coming election, one should not forget another actor in Burmese political equation. Enter the USDA or much hated thuggish Union Solidarity & Development Association. There have been apparently some tactical moves by SPDC military regime leaders to strengthen their proxy organization USDA.
USDA boasted a 20 millions strong membership but its bloated membership should be attributed to automatic and mandatory memberships. Some get into the organization for some petty fringes like easy access to credit, some business opportunities, easy purchase of travel tickets, etc.. It will not be wrong to claim that less than 1% of members are hardcore. However, we should not underestimate USDA.
If regime had converted it as a political party and contest in coming elections, with its establishment, with state resources, it could be a formidable political machine. It could win elections, especially if they are not fair enough and if opposition can not, or will not, field enough credible candidates to contest against those USDA men. There is a risk that Burma will fall into the hands of an organization led by dictator patrons (U Than Shwe, U Aung Thaung (who has forged connections to both Gen. Than Shwe and Gen. Maung Aye camps) and opportunistic clients (suckering USDA mid level and junior leaders).
To make things worse, USDA has been making consistent efforts in recruiting some prominent grass root leaders and some ambitious young educated professionals into its junior and mid level ranks and files.
Whether the membership was by induction, seduction or coercion, what matters is that they have candidates to contest while we are lacking ones. Will we be going to war like last time fielding some high school drop outs hoping that they will win this time under the flag of NLD? Will Daw Su be alive when there will be elections? What will we do if Daw Su and top leaders were still under confinement?
Had elections come, a well informed ordinary citizen of Burma will face a moral dilemma.
If he were to stick to the old election results and boycotts the new elections, then it will be like letting USDA won without a serious fight. If elections will be there, if USDA contest and win without serious fight from opposition (if opposition is not prepared or boycotted or give it as pass), and if government and cabinet are formed, then half of the international governments in United Nations Assembly will hail it as a process of democracy without understanding the real political anatomy of Burma. After all it is not where those international leaders will live, work, retire and be buried. It is us who has a stake in Burma.
But on the other hand, if there were willing support for coming election and water downed 50% democracy (may be worse than that) under questionable constitution drawn by disputable delegates, it will be like neglecting the results of election 17 years ago and those who voted with their hearts and heads.
It will be like feeding half cooked meal to one's own hungry children since one does not know when and how to get proper meal. Should one accept half baked democracy and feed it to one’s own children and let them learn to chew it hoping it might be nutritious. Like that analogy, will it be good for Burma to accept that diluted democracy even if it looks like a fake? Hard to say and it is up to the individuals to decide.
But this author thinks it will be the best if every Burmese citizen becomes bolder, braver and raise awareness among themselves, make demands within the existing laws, pushes the boundaries, widen the political space and increase the individual rights. They should participate in the push to free all NLD leaders and foot soldiers, to help NLD recruit and operate as a legal political party as it rightfully deserves. We all should demand for freer speeches, more accommodating press and liberal thoughts.
Also we should fight against all unjust and thuggish acts without bowing or submitting ourselves. We should not let those bullies get away with what they want without a serious fight from us. We will fight with all our might. We will give all our best to teach them lessons. We will never say a pass to any fights started by unjust bullies even they happen to be man of power and authority. We are not born into this world to kowtow everyone. We were not raised by our mothers to stay as second class citizens; we breathe to live and we have to fight for our rights. We have to start living as free men if we want freedom.
We have to fight both inside and outside of Burma. We have to fight our own fears. We have to fight for just and fair practices everywhere: in classrooms, in the streets, in living rooms, at the dinner table, on the train, at teashops, or at any encounters with any abusive authorities. If we all avert from cowardice and submissive culture, then it will help lay a good and solid foundation for democratic Burma. Let's give a hand in the push for widening the political space in Burma so that authorities will respect NLD as the party which has won a landslide election victory.
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