A State-run ‘Market Economy’
By SEAN TURNELL
Without the rule of law, there are no guarantees the economy will be free of state interference under the 2008 Constitution
Nudging the Junta toward Democracy
By KYAW ZWA MOE
What can the international community and the opposition do to ensure that next year’s election puts Burma on the road to genuine political reform? |
Common Grounds for Dialogue
By HTET AUNG
The NLD and the Than Shwe regime actually share some common ground on the role of the military in Burma’s future. |
Coming to the Bargaining Table
By HTET AUNG
The main issues now are how far is the Burmese junta willing to go in order to have economic sanctions lifted, and how quickly? |
1990 Election Lessons for the NLD
By KAY LATT
The NLD went through a nation-wide election in 1990 and won big, but the military did not honor the results. Now, the NLD faces a new dilemma. |
The New Constitution and the Transfer of Power
By HTET AUNG
The new constitution, the 2010 election, the formation of a parliament and the creation of the organs of state are all filled with potential pitfalls. The outcome will determine Burma’s future. |
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Dear readers,
The general election that Burma’s military regime plans to hold in 2010 will be the 15th in the country’s history—and the first for many young people now eligible to vote. Almost all the previous elections were held either in the time of the British colonial administration or during the authoritarian regimes that followed, culminating in the 1990 vote that drew about 15 million people, nearly one third of the population, to polling stations throughout the country. That election resulted in a landslide victory for the pro-democracy National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi and ignored by a military regime intent on clinging to power.
Twenty years later, the regime plans to again seek legitimacy by obtaining a popular mandate in an election seen by many observers as a maneuver to establish a permanent role for the military in the political arena.
While these observers and political activists believe the election will not be free and fair, some observers insist that it is the only game in town since the regime is immune to any pressure and attempt at persuasion.
Like it or not, therefore, the upcoming election will be a significant event—positively or negatively—in the country’s two decades-long political deadlock. The Irrawaddy will be closely following the lead-up to the election in a new online section, Election Watch, appearing regularly and providing readers with full coverage of constitution issues, election-related reports and in-depth analysis.
The Irrawaddy |
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