What a Victory for Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar.

History has been made in Myanmar (Burma), with the first democratically free general election for  over 25 years, been held on the 8^th November. The election commission has just announced that Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party have won a landslide victory.

The final results have not been fully declared, as a small number of seats still to be confirmed, but the NLD have so far gained  two-thirds or over 80% of the elected seats in both the low and upper houses. The rest of the seats have been divided between the current military backed Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP), the automatic 25% seats held by the military and other minor parties.

  With such a landslide victory, one would think that Ms Suu Kyi, as leader of the NLD would become President or at least Prime Minister. But the political arrangement in Myanmar is no ordinary democratic system that many other states enjoy, instead much of the power still lies with the military. Although the NLD will have the majority of seats in both houses in the Hluttaw (Parliament) and have the right to participate in the selection of a new President, many of the key positions of power will still belong to the military generals. The defence, home affairs minister and other security related positions are selected by the military.

Furthermore, with the election results clearly demonstrating that Ms Suu Kyi commands the support of majority of the Myanmar people, one would also think that she would become President, but this is not the case. Unless the constitution is changed (this requires the support of the military), Ms Suu Kyi cannot become President, because she was married to a foreigner and have two boys who are both British citizens.

This election result is a first step victory for democracy in Myanmar and for Ms Suu Kyi, but unless we see a constitutional change and major reforms, the unelected military will still have majority of control over the country and its future. Although this election compared to 1991 and more recent ones have shown that Myanmar is heading in the right direction, but as Ms Suu Kyi has stated in the past that there is a long road ahead. For real democracy and freedom for the Myanmar people to be realised, the military needs to step away from its past and grant much needed constitutional reforms, allowing for Ms Suu Kyi to stand as President. 

The weeks and months ahead will be crucial for a country not experienced in democratic change. Let’s hope that both the current President Thein Sein and the military stick to their words and respect the election results, perhaps even work with a Ms Suu Kyi led government to bring long awaited democratic change to the people of Myanmar.  

Aung San Suu Kyi's address at the Sydney Opera House

On Wednesday this week, Sydney was previledged to have Daw Aung San Suu Kyi address an enthusiastic crowd at the Opera House.

View a replay of this great event here:

Should International Sanctions on Burma be lifted?

Image source: WikiCommons Credit to: Htoo Tay Zar

On Monday the European Union (EU) lifted its economic sanctions on Burma (Myanmar), although an arms embargo is still in place. This act comes inline with other international institutions and states that have over the last year or so lifted their own sanctions on Burma. For instance, last year the United States, suspended some sanctions and relaxed trade restrictions between both countries. Much of these sanctions have been in place for a number of decades, ever since Burma has been under military rule. During this time, the Burmese people suffered under the sanctions, which prevented any direct foreign investment and trade with the international community, and slowed economic development.

Since 2011, the military junta has been on a campaign of economic, political and social reforms, culminating in the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been under house arrest for almost 19 years. On top of Suu Kyi’s release, the military generals progressed with a new constitution, allowing for the first time, opposition groups to hold seats in parliament. Even though, the military still hold over half the seats and govern over state affairs, Aung San Suu  Kyi  has become a member of parliament and has a voice in national decision making.

I agree with the lifting of some of the economic sanctions by the international community, but I am a little sceptical of the future intentions of the military junta in Burma. Foreign placed sanctions on countries over a long period, such as the one in Burma, has some short term effects to pressuring regimes to reform and tackle issues of human rights, but in the long term, the sanctions can bring further misery on the people, not the authorities which the sanctions target. On my second point, the Burmese government have began showing signs that they will begin a process of reform, but I do think that the international community needs to be vigilant in how much leeway to give to  the Burmese government in regards to carrying out the planned reforms. Before more international institutions or countries start lifting sanctions on Burma, further reforms, especially in regards to human rights abuses needs to be actively addressed.