Democracy News

Burma’s Military-Filled Parliament Convenes for First Time
February 3, 2011
By: Carlos Aramayo | Printer Friendly

On January 31, Burma convened its first parliament in more than two decades. This event sets the stage for the selection of a new president to head one of Asia's most secretive states. However, according to the New York Times, analysts and residents say they doubt much will change in the short-term in Burma, a resource-rich state that has been controlled by a repressive military junta since the early 1960s.

Controversially under Burma’s constitution – drafted by the junta – a quarter of the parliamentary seats were already reserved for military nominees before the vote took place. In addition, the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won nearly 80% of the remaining votes.

In the meantime, Burma’s Supreme Court upheld a “dissolution order” of the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by political dissident Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi is a known opposition politician who led her party to win the country’s 1990 general elections. However, after annulling the results, the junta placed Suu Kyi under house arrest before she could ever take office. Suu Kyi, who is also a Nobel Peace Prize winner (1991), was detained for 15 of the past 21 years until her release on November 13, 2010.  

The court's decision leaves Suu Kyi and her party outside of formal politics in Burma. The ruling stated that the NLD was “an unlawful association because it refused to register for the recent elections.” The NLD argued that the election would be fraudulent and called for a party-wide boycott.

Western nations and the Burmese pro-democracy opposition have widely criticized the elections due to a lack of any democratic safeguards. Some Western governments went further and have also condemned the elections amid reports of fraud and are showing no signs of easing economic sanctions on the junta.
 
Voice of America reports that as the new parliament convenes, real power will remain in the hands of top generals. Debbie Stothard, with the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, stated that, “the whole range of rules and laws restricting parliamentarians from voicing their opinion or asking questions and the rules that actually impose a year's jail sentence on members of the public who enter the parliament without permission, it's pretty clear that this is a showcase parliament being held hostage by the military authorities."

The junta has brushed off such accusations and has claimed this is a step towards democracy since after the formal parliamentary inauguration the selection of a new president will be overseen by the new parliament. The parliament is expected to vote for the first civilian president in 50 years.

The appointment of a civilian president will be the final step in the junta’s so-called "roadmap to democracy." These claims have been rebuffed by western governments who expect the military and its proxies to hold a dominant role in parliament and a huge sway over its policies.

The country’s presidential selection process has been shrouded in mystery, which as the Wall Street Journal reports is characteristic in Burma. According to BBC, “Lawmakers in Burma have elected two out of three vice-presidents - one of whom will go on to become the next president. The lower house chose Thein Sein, the prime minister in the outgoing military government and a trusted ally of top general Than Shwe.

The upper house voted for Sai Mauk Kham, an ethnic Shan also from the military-backed USDP party. The president will be elected from the trio of vice-presidential picks.” General Than Shwe is the most powerful man in the junta and is widely regarded as the Head of State in Burma.

For Previous News on Burma, please see:
Burmese Pro-Junta Candidates Dominate Rigged Parliamentary Election

Burmese Junta Releases Aung San Suu Kyi From House Arrest

Sources:
BBC- Burma upholds dissolution of Suu Kyi's NLD part

BBC - Burma releases pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi

The Wall Street Journal - Myanmar Presidential Candidates Emerge

BBC - Burma elects vice-presidents to vie for top job