May 5, International Herald Tribune
The junta's vote for repression - Sein Win
It is not often that there is fair warning of a comprehensive abuse of
political rights. But in Burma, we know the day that this abuse will take
place: This coming Saturday. This is the day of the referendum called by
Burma's military regime on the draft constitution it has prepared.
The preparation of the draft constitution has been anything but democratic
and inclusive. The process has excluded all democratic groups and parties,
including the National League of Democracy, which won Burma's last
democratic elections in 1990. It has also excluded the legitimate
representatives of Burma's many ethnic groups.
The constitution proposed by the regime - the State Peace and Development
Council - is one that would leave the military in power, regardless of the
wishes of the Burmese population.
The elections that the regime have proposed to follow the referendum in
2010 would not permit the participation of many democratic parties and
individuals, including the leader of the National League for Democracy,
Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest, now for over 12 years.
In order to view the draft constitution, Burmese citizens - who, thanks to
the regime's disastrous economic policies, are among the poorest in the
world - are required to purchase the 194-page do***ent. Already, the
ruling junta is organizing acts of intimidation and violence to bully the
population to vote yes to the constitution. Despite the obvious risks to
their lives and liberty, opposition groups have decided to participate in
the referendum and vote no.
The regime wants to present this false referendum and anti-democratic
constitution as part of a transition to democracy. The reality of the
referendum is a cynically calculated act to pretend to meet the demands of
the international community, including the UN Security Council, which has
specifically demanded an inclusive constitutional process.
Since the violent repression of demonstrations led by Burma's revered
monks in September, the UN has conducted a "good offices" mission to try
to find a way forward in Burma. So far, the ruling junta has shown no sign
of permitting any kind of inclusive constitutional and democratic process.
Their tactics seem to be to stave off international pressure by slowing
down any dialogue with the UN, and promising empty changes, such as its
new constitution.
These evasive tactics must not be tolerated. The UN Security Council,
along with Asean, the European Union and Burma's immediate neighbors, must
call this referendum what it really is and demand an inclusive
constitutional process, leading to genuinely democratic and open
elections.
These countries - the international community - must insist on objective
international monitoring of the referendum - perhaps by Burma's democratic
regional neighbors like Thailand, Malaysia, Singa****e, or Indonesia - and,
if this is refused, draw the obvious conclusion.
It is time for the international community to increase the economic
pressure on the military senior leader****p via the mechanism of targeted
sanctions, including investment freezes. Those countries in Asean, as well
as China and India, which are the military's major trading and investment
partners, must cease propping up the regime with currency, revenue and
arms.
It is not in anyone's long-term interests for a regime that lacks any
legitimacy to continue in power in Burma. No economic investment can
prosper in such cir***stances and the risk of widespread turmoil and
instability can only increase. Above all, the abuse of the human rights of
Burma's people must be stopped.
The country's democratic opposition proposes a way out of this crisis and
suffering for the Burmese people. We are not looking for revolution or
violent overthrow of the regime, but a peaceful transition to a situation
where Burma is stable and democratically governed.
What this requires is a constitutional process that includes all parties,
including the military, democratic parties and representatives of the many
ethnic groups that make up contem****ary Burma. All these groups must have
a say in Burma's constitutional settlement, as they must too play a part
in any future government. The proper atmosphere for such a process also
requires the release of political prisoners and the end to hostilities in
Burma's ethnic regions.
The military regime pretends that the referendum is a step toward
democracy. It is in reality a massive and comprehensive denial of the
democratic and political rights of the Burmese people. It is essential
that the international community recognizes this fake referendum for what
it is.
Sein Win is chairman of the National Coalition Government of the Union of
Burma, which is outlawed by the military junta.
|
