BURMA: 1990 Elections Overview

Burma has been under totalitarian regimes since 1962 when General Ne Win staged a military coup. Since then, Burmese people are suffering very tremendously. Under General Ne Win’s one party Burma Socialist Programming Party, corruptions are rampant, and people are facing very hardship due to closed economics system and miss-management. In 1988 students led the mass uprising demanding for democracy, human rights and successfully managed to topple General Ne Win’s government after sacrificing thousands of lives. But, another military came to power on 18 September 1988 after gunned down peaceful demonstrators and declared to hold elections. On 27 May 1990, elections were held and National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi won landslide victory. State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) later changed the name to State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the ruling generals, refused to honour the elections results and put Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest and arresting political activists intensified. People’s longing for freedom and liberty have never been faded away and Burma’s situation is like a time bomb waiting to be exploded.
In 1996 December, another students demonstrations were broke out demanding for student rights, freedom and calling for Asean not to allow Burma to join the bloc. Military regime swiftly cracked down students movements and imprisoned prominent leaders. Historically, students are always forefront of the movements in Burma and successfully fought to regain national independence. Ordinary people never hesitate to join in and show their support. But, peaceful protesters armed with non-violent were incomparable to soldiers with guns and riot polices with batons. In May 2003, Aung San Suu Kyi’s motorcade was attacked by junta backed thugs near Depaeyin, upper Burma. Hundreds of Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters were beaten to dead. Regime in the mean time, still ignoring to honour the 1990 elections results and didn’t allow elected MPs to meet as the people’s assembly. Human rights violations are common in Burma, day in and day out, everywhere. The basic commodities prices are inflated to the sky rocked high. While, living standard of Burmese citizens are escalating downward very rapidly out of control. In Burma, majority of the people are Buddhism comprising of 90% of the population and Buddhist monks are traditionally very revered in Burmese society. Buddhist monks played vital role alongside with public in country’s struggle for independence, justice and freedom. In August 2007 when military regime announce to increase the fuel price 500% unnoticed overnight which caused to elevate prices of other stable food and basic commodities. People of Burma are facing very difficult situation as people earn less than $1 a day and students’ leaders demanded the regime to solve the problems. Military regime suppressed very quickly and arrested prominent leaders. Buddhist monks cannot keep quiet anymore as lay people are suffering very tremendously and they led the public and demanded the junta to find the solution and calling for national reconciliation. Military regime saw the Buddhist monks as the threatened to their cling onto power and attacked the Buddhist monks. The largest anti-government protests were broke out in 19 years led by Buddhist monks called Golden Colour Revolution (Saffron revolution). Military regime opened fired on peaceful demonstrators including Buddhist monks and raided Buddhist monastery and imprisoned thousand of political dissidents. Hundreds of people lost their lives during Saffron revolution and regime have no exception to anyone who against them. International Community witnessed the brutalities of the regime and condemned the junta for killing peaceful demonstrators. In May 2 and 3, 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck Burma killing more than 200, 000 people and left more than 2 million people homeless. Military regime deliberately delayed to give humanitarian assistance and denied to accept international relief efforts. In the mist of catastrophic Cyclone disaster, military regime prioritized to adopt its sham constitution through sham referendum. They declared that constitution was adopted with more than 90% of the vote.
Why We Must Reject 2010 Elections in Burma
People power and non-violent movement can topple the dictators; abolish apartheid system and liberate colonial rules. We do not recognize junta's seven steps road map or 2010 election plan. This is the true desire of Burmese people coming from the bottom of our hearts and the results of the 1990 General Elections must be implemented accordingly. There are very concrete reasons not to follow junta’s 2010 elections plan. The next step of the 1990 elections must be transfer the power to elections wining party. But, junta clearly ignored to honour them. They had voted for Aung San Suu Kyi as their leader and showed their support already. Aung San Suu Kyi should be the Prime Minister of Burma according to the result of 1990 Elections. We have learnt the lessons already from the past experience that regime won’t give up the power easily and they will take ultimate force to crush all the dissidents to cling onto power. Endorsing regime’s 2010 elections game plan would lead Burma to full scale catastrophe and Burmese people will have to pay for the prices very dearly. Military rule would be legitimized under the constitution which adopted unilaterally in which 25% of the parliamentary seats are for military personnel who will be appointed directly by commander in chief of the army. Constitution cannot be amended without having more than 75% of the parliamentary votes and president must have the military background and got the authority of dissolving the parliament at any time whenever he thinks is necessary. The elections of 2010 will definitely not be free and fair even though accepting 2010 elections game plan is out of question.