Myanmar/Burma elections 2015

BrainGlutton · November 11, 2015, 10:10pm

Aung Syuu Ki’s National League for Democracy takes 90% of the vote. President Thein Sein congratulates them.

Of course, this has happened before, and the military junta said no way. What will they do now?

Apparently, they still have a system where the military is guaranteed one-fourth of the seats in Parliament.

Peremensoe · November 11, 2015, 11:52pm

Of course I hope that the army will allow the “disciplined” quasi-democratic system they set up to unfold, that Daw Suu will be allowed to work unmolested, and that neither side will feel either pressed or emboldened enough to do something that triggers a confrontation which could turn violent.

Then, that the new government moves to entrench democratic principles and practices, such that the next election cycle can move further still from the dictatorship.

Will all that happen? I have no idea.

Peremensoe · November 13, 2015, 3:31am

This is a nice story, which adds to my hope.

Thomas Fuller / NYT:

…citizens were not afraid to vote against the ruling party, thanks largely to the government’s efforts in the last five years to dismantle the police state. The administration of President Thein Sein reduced censorship, freed political prisoners and allowed civic organizations, long suppressed during the military dictatorship, to flourish.

“A big factor was the freedoms that have existed since 2011 — in terms of the press, the Internet, the relaxing of censorship, the ability to hold demonstrations,” said David Steinberg, an expert on Myanmar at Georgetown University. The government “allowed campaigning to have a lot more freedom than in the past,” he said.

Mr. Thein Sein was not unpopular. Seventy-two percent of people surveyed in October by the Merdeka Center, a polling agency based in Malaysia, said they approved of the way he was administering the country.

“The majority of Myanmar citizens appreciate Thein Sein for the reforms he tried to bring, and opening up the country,” said Tan Seng Keat, the research manager at Merdeka. “But this alone cannot address their fervent desire to have a government chosen by the people and to put an end to an indirect rule by the military.”

BrainGlutton · November 13, 2015, 4:22am

The Burmese Junta – nasty thugs!
Are dissing Aung Syuu Ki
We’ll help them out, although it gets us
Into World War Three
BURMA SAVE!

Not really relevant to any current geopolitical reality, but, I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. :o

YogSothoth · November 13, 2015, 5:30pm

Wait, why did they have an election? Last I heard they were still controlled by the military and jailing dissidents like Aung Syuu Ki. Now suddenly they have an election?

BrainGlutton · November 13, 2015, 10:40pm

In response to international carrot-and-stick pressure, the junta has been loosening up, a tiny-baby-step at a time, for several years now.

BrainGlutton · November 13, 2015, 10:41pm

Interesting article: Burma: Democracy with an Asterisk?

MEBuckner · November 13, 2015, 10:51pm

According to an article in the New York Times, the junta actually thought they would win.

Oops.

YogSothoth · November 13, 2015, 11:38pm

Did they use Rasmussen too?

MEBuckner · November 13, 2015, 11:50pm

These darned Burmese kids, none of 'em use landlines anymore!

BrainGlutton · November 14, 2015, 1:05am

Well, yes, actually, they . . . oh. Never mind. Thought you meant “landmines.”