Myanmar Elections - Free and Fair?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34763273
http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2015/11/151107_birmania_elecciones_condiciones_analisis_aw
http://www.theguardian.com/world/aung-san-suu-kyi
http://www.dassk.com/
http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2015/11/151107_birmania_elecciones_condiciones_analisis_aw
http://www.theguardian.com/world/aung-san-suu-kyi
http://www.dassk.com/
Myanmar Elections - Free and Fair?
On 8 November the people of Myanmar will vote in what is being called the country's first "free and fair elections" following five decades of military rule and an imposed civilian government that was established in 2010. Over 6,000 candidates from 91 registered political parties will be running; but the two perceived front runners – the ruling, military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi – are drawing most interest. Should Suu Kyi's party win, however, she would be unable to legally become the country's leader as a constitutional provision bars any individual with foreign children from holding office. Suu Kyi, the mother of two British-born children, has however stated that if her party wins the election, she will be the leader of the government, even if she is not the president. She declared that the constitution "will have to change to allow civilian authorities to have the necessary democratic authority over the armed forces."
While the presence of 150 EU election observers and hundreds of international journalists should increase the transparency and credibility of the elections, there are many issues raising alarm for the electoral process and its outcome. With regards to the political parties themselves, a 3 November report released by the Worldwide Movement for Human Rights found that the majority of the 91 parties have failed to prioritize or commit to human rights issues within their platforms. Arguably the most undemocratic aspect of the elections is the disenfranchisement of a half million Muslim Rohingya civilians and the “purge” of Rohingya electoral candidates. In addition, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Ms. Yanghee Lee, has raised concerns about restrictions in place on freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
The ongoing conflict in various regions of Myanmar between rebel groups and government forces further jeopardizes the fairness of the upcoming elections. Civilians in these regions will not be able to access polling stations, and thus will not be able to participate in the elections. On a similar note, civilians in Karen state expressed concern about a potential win by the USDP out of fear of a return to violence in the region at the hands of government forces. Of further alarm is the release of two academic reports by the Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School and the International State Crime Initiative at Queen Mary University of London, which allege evidence of a campaign of genocide against the Rohingya community by the government of Myanmar.
Many United Nations officials have expressed concern about the upcoming elections, and have called on the government of Myanmar to take all measures possible to ensure an environment of peace. The Secretary-General raised his concern with regards to the use of hate speech, and the "provocation of communal hostilities and the abuse of religion for political purposes." His Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect, in a statement released on 4 November, noted similar concerns, including with regards to the politicization of ethnicity and religion which has led to increased "advocacy of religions hatred against Muslim minority" by religious leaders. The Advisers also noted their concern that the electoral process has increased marginalization, particularly of the Rohingya population. It is hoped that such concern and calls for the government of Myanmar to take all possible action to ensure peaceful elections will result in efforts to provide the opportunity for civilians to freely participate in the democratic process. As Special Rapporteur Lee stated, "the credibility of the elections will be judged by the environment in which they are conducted and the extent to which all sectors of Myanmar society have been allowed to freely participate in the political process."
The ongoing conflict in various regions of Myanmar between rebel groups and government forces further jeopardizes the fairness of the upcoming elections. Civilians in these regions will not be able to access polling stations, and thus will not be able to participate in the elections. On a similar note, civilians in Karen state expressed concern about a potential win by the USDP out of fear of a return to violence in the region at the hands of government forces. Of further alarm is the release of two academic reports by the Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School and the International State Crime Initiative at Queen Mary University of London, which allege evidence of a campaign of genocide against the Rohingya community by the government of Myanmar.
Many United Nations officials have expressed concern about the upcoming elections, and have called on the government of Myanmar to take all measures possible to ensure an environment of peace. The Secretary-General raised his concern with regards to the use of hate speech, and the "provocation of communal hostilities and the abuse of religion for political purposes." His Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect, in a statement released on 4 November, noted similar concerns, including with regards to the politicization of ethnicity and religion which has led to increased "advocacy of religions hatred against Muslim minority" by religious leaders. The Advisers also noted their concern that the electoral process has increased marginalization, particularly of the Rohingya population. It is hoped that such concern and calls for the government of Myanmar to take all possible action to ensure peaceful elections will result in efforts to provide the opportunity for civilians to freely participate in the democratic process. As Special Rapporteur Lee stated, "the credibility of the elections will be judged by the environment in which they are conducted and the extent to which all sectors of Myanmar society have been allowed to freely participate in the political process."