Burmese exile calls Than Shwe, the ‘Terminator’ who crushed democracy in Myanmar
AsiaNews spoke to Tint Swe, a member of the Council of Ministers of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), set up by refugees from Myanmar after the 1990 elections won by the National League for Democracy, which the military junta never recognised. Having fled to India in 1990, he has lived in New Delhi since 21 December 1991, where he serves as the NCGUB information officer for South Asia and East Timor.
Events in Burma are always astonishing. Burma is the only country where a free and fair election was made illegal and where the parties that won the previous election were required to reregister for the next election. If the Whigs and the Tories were parties in Burma, they would have to register again before every election. The Labour party would also need to drop Gordon Brown if the Electoral Commission was headed by an ex-army officer. The election laws bar all government employees from involvement in politics but the outgoing in office - prime minister is allowed to register a new political party and be its chairman.
All criticism, objections, disapproval, oppositions and legal challenges are ignored right away. This is Burma, anyway! There is no option left for Aung San Suu Kyi, but to stay clear from the upcoming election. Thus, after 21 years, 7 months and 10 days, the old National League for Democracy (NLD) is going to turn into a non-political entity on 7 May.
The junta’s grand scheme of turning ceasefire groups into the Border Guard Forces (BGF) is being aggressively opposed by strong armed groups. The United Wa State Army (UWSA), the Kachin Independent Army (KIO), the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Shan State Army (SSA North) are armed and will defend themselves. By contrast, the NLD will no longer exist politically, leaving its supporters defenceless. It will have to find something else to do. Whether through armed resistance or non-violent defiance, the junta’s plans for the country are being opposed.
Aung San Suu Kyi gave instructions to fly the party’s flags and keep its signs. Her deputies are telling ordinary Burmese that the party is not forsaking or turning its back on them. It is not the first time that NLD will have to stay alive without offices. From 2003 to 2010, the authorities sealed all offices of NLD throughout the country leaving, except for the one in Rangoon. For 20 years, removing signs of legally constituted party was not against the law in Burma for 20 years. Now, tearing down the signboards of an unregistered party is very much legal. It is not Arnold Schwarzenegger but Senior General Than Shwe who will act in the next Terminator movie.
Aung San Suu Kyi said that the NLD would not be destroyed even if it were dissolved. However, the NLD has to go against the flow. Since the party decided not to reregister, party workers found plentiful of non-political work to do on behalf of the millions of poor and the needy. They work for political prisoners and the victims of Cyclone Nargis. HIV/AIDS, child soldiers, forced labour, and more are still hot issues. Young people are telling their elder about the flaws of the 2008 constitution and the election laws. Women members are gaining credit by offering food to monks and praying for the release of Daw Suu and all political prisoners.
The Union Solidarity and Development party headed by a so-called civilian prime minister is involved in a hectic election campaign. A factory constructed with public funds has become his gift to voters. The Information minister, who is expected to become the division chief minister in the, has built free health camps and libraries in Sagaing. Ex-army candidates are making promises to pave roads in Rangoon. The deputy home minister is issuing temporary IDs to Chinese in Moegong Township.
The regime continues to use the same old techniques. Aung San Suu Kyi’s application to run in the 1990 election was initially accepted and then rejected. Recently, Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to resume repair work on her house. She and party Chairman U Aung Shwe, as well as other elected MPs, were allowed to file legal challenges before the courts. Still, no one will be surprised if their applications are turned down.
In any case, in the absence of the NLD, not all is going smooth in the 2010 election. The poll may be considered part of a multi-party democracy but it is clear that for voters the choice is cast in black and white, like in a referendum, because it is a battle between a lion and a mouse. In the end, the army may win the battle, but the war is not over yet.
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17/03/2021 13:08
