For the first time in 25 years after the denial of landslide 1990 election by the then military rulers, millions of my countrymen flocked to the polls stations across Myanmar yesterday to cast their votes of choice. The results are expected to be released on Monday local time, per election officials. Many critics, inside and outside Burma, cautiously acknowledge the election would be fair despite pockets of irregularities.
My mind flew back to 1990 election when I was serving as a civil servant in the city Pyinmana, now the Capitol Naypyidaw. I was happened to be one of the township election commission members. Not to the surprised, the the entire commission members voted for the opposition party NLD!
Even the citizens outside Burma made chartered flights to the native land just to cast votes. Hundreds and thousands of Burmese citizens lined up for hours and days in front of foreign missionaries to show their eagerness.
Sadly, many Burmese who were born and even raised in their native Burma were barred to vote due to lack of Burmese citizen ships. The current constitution is lack of this human right. Our birth right has been erased once you (for any reason) bare no valid Burmese passport. Sadly Banghali (Rohingya), who historically live side-by-side in Myanmar for many centuries, were excluded. If we accept the truthfulness of 'immigration', they are our brothers and sisters despite their colors and faiths.
My mind flew back to 1990 election when I was serving as a civil servant in the city Pyinmana, now the Capitol Naypyidaw. I was happened to be one of the township election commission members. Not to the surprised, the the entire commission members voted for the opposition party NLD!
Even the citizens outside Burma made chartered flights to the native land just to cast votes. Hundreds and thousands of Burmese citizens lined up for hours and days in front of foreign missionaries to show their eagerness.
Sadly, many Burmese who were born and even raised in their native Burma were barred to vote due to lack of Burmese citizen ships. The current constitution is lack of this human right. Our birth right has been erased once you (for any reason) bare no valid Burmese passport. Sadly Banghali (Rohingya), who historically live side-by-side in Myanmar for many centuries, were excluded. If we accept the truthfulness of 'immigration', they are our brothers and sisters despite their colors and faiths.
It is premature to predict NLD will overwhelmingly win, but it is likely. Even though, the opposition party NLD and others set to win with majority votes, there are much to be done. The standing constitution bars elected official to make major changes without blessing by 25% military mandate in all levels of legislative. The opposition figure Aung San Su Kyi is barred to become a president while the commander-in-chief maintains absolute power to appoint his choice to the presidium. Most importantly, parliamentarians have no power to draft a law on their owns. Many laws passed, to this day, are being processed and drafted by either government agencies, office of the attorney-general and/or technical expertise who are outside of the elected personals circle. Literally, lawmakers receive the drafted packages only after that and are allowed to discuss to make passage to become laws. It is not clear, how much to the extent the lawmakers' (parliamentarians) input are considered.
However, power-hunger politicians, have much of their eyes on "chairs" of the Hluttaws.
Regardless of many critics, Thein Sein is the leader of today's Myanmar who opens many doors in transition of democracy. It has been proven that all laymen are allowed to openly criticize the government in streets for the first time since 1962 military rule. His tracked record of allowance to participate in political arena by all oppositions, opening of dialogue of ceasefire of armed groups with outside technical expertise, freeing of many political prisoners, relaxation of media iron grip, decentralization of public authorities and deployment of asset management to minority ethnic regions and states and sidelining with public in religious and ethnic disputes and civil unrests. I am thrilled to learn president and military chief commitment to respect the election outcome. Thousands of images appear on public network with president and his deputies taking part in waiting lines side-by-side with general public (although still part of the propaganda) to cast their votes.
However, power-hunger politicians, have much of their eyes on "chairs" of the Hluttaws.
Regardless of many critics, Thein Sein is the leader of today's Myanmar who opens many doors in transition of democracy. It has been proven that all laymen are allowed to openly criticize the government in streets for the first time since 1962 military rule. His tracked record of allowance to participate in political arena by all oppositions, opening of dialogue of ceasefire of armed groups with outside technical expertise, freeing of many political prisoners, relaxation of media iron grip, decentralization of public authorities and deployment of asset management to minority ethnic regions and states and sidelining with public in religious and ethnic disputes and civil unrests. I am thrilled to learn president and military chief commitment to respect the election outcome. Thousands of images appear on public network with president and his deputies taking part in waiting lines side-by-side with general public (although still part of the propaganda) to cast their votes.
The fairness and transparency of the election will NOT be proven until elected parliamentarians are handed over with the executive power in all Hluttaws; expected to convene early next year.
All of the sudden (of the decades of political darkness), many of my fellow citizens who turned their back to opposition parties including Daw Aung San Su Kyi, due to either afraid of persecution or dislike, have turned their faces to her and embrace her like "NLD enthusiasts"!
The current constitution is lack of (2) major norms: lack of power of representation and lack of power to elect directly to the nation's top executive position called president. Constitution was crafted carefully to make sure the constitutional power rests with military ruler.
Yesterday election result came out much excitement of freedom in casting votes by the general public. But the future Myanmar's, the most important part such as formation of government and it's machinery, still lies in the forthcoming legislative meetings where the election of president will take place.
The current constitution is lack of (2) major norms: lack of power of representation and lack of power to elect directly to the nation's top executive position called president. Constitution was crafted carefully to make sure the constitutional power rests with military ruler.
Yesterday election result came out much excitement of freedom in casting votes by the general public. But the future Myanmar's, the most important part such as formation of government and it's machinery, still lies in the forthcoming legislative meetings where the election of president will take place.
We will see the flicker of democracy at the end of the tunnel by early next year!
with Metta
Kyi Wynn
