An Opinion on the Election in Burma

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:37 - Last Updated Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:46

In a few weeks time the Burmese dictatorial, military government will be holding an election. It is
a sham election which the Generals and their supporters have been cunningly planning for
years. The Generals badly want this election to be a success so as to legalize their regime and
to hold on to absolute power like their ancient kings.

During the early periods of history the Mons, the Shans and the Burmans competed to become
the most dominant group in the country. The Mons were dominant in Central and Upper Burma
during the very early period, the Shans from the 13 th until the late 16 th Century, including the
Shan Plateau. The Burmans became the most dominant group in Central and Upper Burma and
some parts of the Shan plateau from the the late 16
th

. Century until the occupation of the British.

According to history the Burman kings built three empires, the 2 nd of these was in the sixteenth
century(1551-1581) during Bayinnaung's reign, and the 3
rd

during the Kobaung Dynasty in the 18

th

. Century. The empire building was halted after the British colonized Burma in 1885.

Coincidentally, at the same time the Shan Sao Hpas (Sawbwa)on the Shan Plateau also
rebelled against King Thibaw because he pressurized them to collect more and more tax from
the Shan citizens. Many Shan citizens were also forced to join the Burmese army during their
empire building.

The colonisation of Burma by the British was a huge blow to the Burman nationalists and they
could never forget and and forgive Britain for their damaged pride. After independence the
desire to build the 4 th empire became their obsession, and that drove them to use any possible
means, as is shown in their brutal and ruthless behavior and actions against citizens who are
obstacles to their political ideology.

Bertil Lintner, a former correspondent with the Far Eastern Economic Review and currently a
writer with Asia Pacific Media Services recently wrote a warning article “ Behold, beware
Myanmar's fourth empire”.

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An Opinion on the Election in Burma
Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:37 - Last Updated Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:46

It is a known fact that the election set up by the junta is a sham, and will not be just or fair.
Therefore, it is irresponsible to participate in such an election, or encourage anyone to do so.
Having had an election does not mean that the country has become democratic, especially
when citizens are forced to accept the constitution or bribed to vote for the parties sponsored by
the military.

The 2008 constitution ensures that 25 percent of the seats in parliament would be held by the
military-led Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

The Constitution drawn up gives absolute power to the military rule and legalizes military coups.
It grants total immunity for any past human rights violations committed by the current or former
ruling juntas.

The regime’s , propaganda and campaign are in full swing. The opposition parties are allowed
to vote, but without the freedom of speech and the right to oppose or criticize the military
government.

The Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) members and others ethnic groups are said to
have been forced by the military to set up a political party, and to get involved in the election.

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An Opinion on the Election in Burma
Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:37 - Last Updated Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:46

The Shan Nationalities Democratic Party has set out several genuine policies beneficial to their
people ; some of their policies are not unlike the principles set out in the Panglong Agreement,
and by Hkun Htun Oo and SNLD members. But can anyone honestly say that any party or
anyone would be allowed to pursue or implement such principles, the very principles the top
Generals are afraid of, and trying to destroy for the last fifty years of their occupation? Most
probably they would be sent to prison.

The Generals made promises to the ceasefire groups, but now they are being pressurised to
become border guards under their command. Those ceasefire groups who are resisting the
demand of the Military deserve to be applauded.

Like some foreign communities and media, people who have decided to vote have the view that
in time the situation in Burma could gradually improve by civilized debates in parliament. U Htun
Aye, the well known Shan activist in the early periods after independence thought the same.
After leading the Shan citizens to revolt against the Sao Hpas and the British Government he
was appointed the Commissioner in the Shan State Government and worked closely with the
Military establishment. He later found that the Rangoon Government, and later the Military
Regimes were much worse than the Sao Hpas’ administration. 

In his book , “The Shan Conundrum in Burma (2nd. Edition)” Henri-Andre Aye, wrote that his
father tried to work with the system, however odious he realized it became, to create a better
government with a degree of autonomy for Shan State; he realized in the end that instead of a
socialist welfare state, he had supported the entrenchment of the fascist military dictatorship”. 

This year is critical for peoples of the Shan State. Careful and sensible thinking are essential. If
we give in to the Junta we will lose everything; our ancestral land and everything we hold dear
and believe in. The “Panglong Agreement” will become a thing of the past. Please do not be
tricked and get trapped by the military Generals and their supporters. 

Under this Military dictorial regime there is another threatening issue that could develop and
affect not only the Shan State but the world over, especially neighboring Asian countries.

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An Opinion on the Election in Burma
Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:37 - Last Updated Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:46

According to S.H.A.N the production of drugs is on the rise in the country. Drug Watch
newsletter, issued on the 26-9-2010 stated “that 46 out 0f 55 townships in the Shan State are
still growing opium because the regime allows the local militia to deal in drugs, including
methamphetamines in exchange for their submission”.

“The favored status of the militia has enabled them to overtake ethnic ceasefire groups as the
main drug producers in Shan State. Most ceasefire groups, including the United Wa State Army,
have faced increased military pressure and restrictions after refusing to come under the
regime’s control as Border Guard Forces. 

“The junta’s militias are stepping into the vacuum left by the Wa and setting up new drug
refineries along the Thai-Burma border,They are being rewarded for their political allegiance to
the regime.”

The Shan State is said to be have become a country where poppy plants are encouraged and
grown liberally, where drug refineries are set up along the border by the junta's militia, and the
soldiers or the junta's cronies are at liberty to traffick all kinds of drugs.

It is sad and heart wrenching for ordinary citizens of the Shan State to see their once beautiful
and peaceful homeland turn into a country of crimes, taken over by the fanatics, dictatorial
empire builders, drug refiners, drug traffickers and drug addicts. It has become a suitable
breeding ground for criminals, mafias and terrorists. If neighboring countries, the S.E Asians,
United Nations and Super Powers continue to trust and give the junta the benefit of the doubt
and do not step in to stop this threatening crisis things in the Shan State will become beyond
control as it has happened in Afghanistan. Moreover the Generals are seeking countries like
North Korea to help them in the production of nuclear energy, and its implications.

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An Opinion on the Election in Burma
Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:37 - Last Updated Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:46

The Dictators will not have any scruples or moral consideration to destroy human lives as
witnessed by the horrendous human rights violations they have committed during the fifty years
of their control.

By Sao Noan Oo

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