RANGOON — With final results announced late last week, Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has won 886 out of 1,150 seats at play in Burma’s Nov. 8 general election, including a commanding 59.3 percent of all seats in the Union Parliament, even when 166 military appointees across both houses are factored in.
The final results announced by the country’s electoral body on Friday gave the NLD a total of 255, or 78.9 percent, of 323 elected seats in the Lower House, where seven seats were not contested due to active conflict or, in the Wa Special Region, a failure to secure cooperation with relevant authorities in the semi-autonomous zone. In the Upper House, the NLD won 135, or 80.4 percent, of 168 elected seats.
The party’s election victory saw it exceed by nearly 10 percentage points the 329-seat majority that is required to choose the country’s next president out of 657 votes in the Union Parliament.
The NLD also won big in most regional parliaments, taking 75.3 percent of all 659 elected seats, including 21 out of 29 ethnic affairs minister posts, though the party did not secure majorities in the Shan and Arakan state legislatures, losing 70 out of 93 seats it contested in Shan State and 23 out of 32 in Arakan State.
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Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Genocide against Rohingya - the Holocaust is recurring
The recent report entitled Countdown to Annihilation: Genocide in Myanmar by the International State Crime Initiative (ISCI), Queen Mary University of London, has identified that Rohingya in the Rakhine state of Myanmar have been subjected to genocide based on Nazism ideology.
The term ‘genocide’ sounds very controversial and many parties may be reluctant to make such a strong and serious allegation. The conventional definition of genocide usually involves mass killing committed by the state. However, ISCI investigation shows that the persecution of Rohingya has developed into genocidal practice based on the historic and current conditions. In other words, the genocide is underway in Myanmar.
This claim of genocide was also supported by a Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School which found that there was strong evidence of state crimes committed against Rohingya.
Who are the Rohingya?
The Rohingya community mostly live in the state of Rakhine or its former name Arakan in the north-western part of Myanmar. Rakhine state, which is inhabited by mainly Buddhist community and Rohingya Muslims, is the second poorest state in Myanmar. Rohingya are often referred to as ‘illegal Bengali immigrants’ who came from Bangladesh by the state and in public discourse.
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The term ‘genocide’ sounds very controversial and many parties may be reluctant to make such a strong and serious allegation. The conventional definition of genocide usually involves mass killing committed by the state. However, ISCI investigation shows that the persecution of Rohingya has developed into genocidal practice based on the historic and current conditions. In other words, the genocide is underway in Myanmar.
This claim of genocide was also supported by a Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School which found that there was strong evidence of state crimes committed against Rohingya.
Who are the Rohingya?
The Rohingya community mostly live in the state of Rakhine or its former name Arakan in the north-western part of Myanmar. Rakhine state, which is inhabited by mainly Buddhist community and Rohingya Muslims, is the second poorest state in Myanmar. Rohingya are often referred to as ‘illegal Bengali immigrants’ who came from Bangladesh by the state and in public discourse.
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A new generation comes out to beg
THE sight of children knocking on the windows of cars stopped at traffic light junctions to beg for money is common on the streets near the North Klang bus terminal in Klang.
StarMetro checks revealed there were about 20 Rohingya child beggars in the area.
They were seen moving along Jalan Pos, Jalan Raja Hassan and the Bulatan Seratus roundabout in Persiaran Sultan Ibrahim and the five-foot ways of those streets.
The high volume of traffic and congestion along the streets had led the children to base themselves in the area.
Some of the children could be spotted as early as 8am on weekdays while others would make their appearance much later.
They would walk from car to car, working the whole line of vehicles that were waiting for the traffic light to turn green.
“Tolong, encik, saya orang susah. Tolong bagi duit, saya nak duit untuk makan (Please, sir, I am in distress! Please give me money, I want money for food).” This is their common appeal.
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StarMetro checks revealed there were about 20 Rohingya child beggars in the area.
They were seen moving along Jalan Pos, Jalan Raja Hassan and the Bulatan Seratus roundabout in Persiaran Sultan Ibrahim and the five-foot ways of those streets.
The high volume of traffic and congestion along the streets had led the children to base themselves in the area.
Some of the children could be spotted as early as 8am on weekdays while others would make their appearance much later.
They would walk from car to car, working the whole line of vehicles that were waiting for the traffic light to turn green.
“Tolong, encik, saya orang susah. Tolong bagi duit, saya nak duit untuk makan (Please, sir, I am in distress! Please give me money, I want money for food).” This is their common appeal.
For more information - Visit here.
Nationalism defeated at the ballot box
Why did self-proclaimed nationalist parties fare so badly in the election? Though the absence of opinion polls and comparable electoral data made it difficult in advance to gauge the extent of support for any party, nationalist candidates appeared to be well-organised and amply funded. The hardline nationalist Buddhist Committee for the Protection of Nationalism and Religion, known by its Myanmar acronym Ma Ba Tha, seemed to be enjoying nationwide support, whipping up crowds tens of thousands strong in its tour of the country during campaign season.
Before the election, the hardliners fomented anti-Muslim sentiment, sparred with the National League for Democracy and attempted to castigate the largest opposition as soft on Muslims while also throwing support behind President U Thein Sein. Rights groups and political analysts kept a wary eye on what was deemed a growing tide of radical Buddhist nationalism, warning that it could stymie the NLD in its goal to sweep the majority and provoke unrest.
Yet not a single candidate identifying as a nationalist was elected.
“In a profoundly Buddhist society which generally supported the four ‘race and religion’ bills promoted by Ma Ba Tha, voters have sent a quiet but clear message that political choice is their personal concern and that they are not influenced by Ma Ba Tha’s posturing,” said Derek Tonkin, former British ambassador to Thailand and chair of the non-profit Network Myanmar.
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Before the election, the hardliners fomented anti-Muslim sentiment, sparred with the National League for Democracy and attempted to castigate the largest opposition as soft on Muslims while also throwing support behind President U Thein Sein. Rights groups and political analysts kept a wary eye on what was deemed a growing tide of radical Buddhist nationalism, warning that it could stymie the NLD in its goal to sweep the majority and provoke unrest.
Yet not a single candidate identifying as a nationalist was elected.
“In a profoundly Buddhist society which generally supported the four ‘race and religion’ bills promoted by Ma Ba Tha, voters have sent a quiet but clear message that political choice is their personal concern and that they are not influenced by Ma Ba Tha’s posturing,” said Derek Tonkin, former British ambassador to Thailand and chair of the non-profit Network Myanmar.
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Parties wrangle over dialogue representatives
Despite a walkout by disgruntled members of smaller parties who complained of discrimination, the selection of 16 political party representatives for preparing the nationwide ceasefire agreement dialogue was completed on November 21.
The representatives will take part in the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee, a 48-member body established as part of the ceasefire process, in accordance with the agreement signed on October 15 by the government and eight ethnic armed groups.
The government has already nominated 16 members of the tripartite group, and the signatory armed groups have selected another 16. The third group of 16 members was to be selected by the 91 parties that contested the November 8 election.
The Union Peacemaking Work Committee, led by U Aung Min, convened the parties on November 21 at the Yangon Region parliament building to make the selection.
Representatives of 86 parties that answered the invitation wrangled, however, over the mechanics of the selection process.
U Aung Min proposed that the two major parties elected to hluttaw last week – the National League for Democracy and the Union Solidarity and Development Party – should nominate two each, with one each from the Arakan National Party, the Shan National League for Democracy, the Federal Democratic Alliance, the Nationalities Brotherhood Federation and the United Nationalities Alliance. The remaining seven should then be elected by a vote.
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The representatives will take part in the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee, a 48-member body established as part of the ceasefire process, in accordance with the agreement signed on October 15 by the government and eight ethnic armed groups.
The government has already nominated 16 members of the tripartite group, and the signatory armed groups have selected another 16. The third group of 16 members was to be selected by the 91 parties that contested the November 8 election.
The Union Peacemaking Work Committee, led by U Aung Min, convened the parties on November 21 at the Yangon Region parliament building to make the selection.
Representatives of 86 parties that answered the invitation wrangled, however, over the mechanics of the selection process.
U Aung Min proposed that the two major parties elected to hluttaw last week – the National League for Democracy and the Union Solidarity and Development Party – should nominate two each, with one each from the Arakan National Party, the Shan National League for Democracy, the Federal Democratic Alliance, the Nationalities Brotherhood Federation and the United Nationalities Alliance. The remaining seven should then be elected by a vote.
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Myanmar and UN again at odds over human rights, constitution
Myanmar has strongly rejected criticism of its human rights record by the United Nations, slamming the world body for its interference and “intrusive language“.
The third committee of the United Nations General Assembly in New York released its evaluation of Myanmar’s human rights record on November 18.
The UN criticised Myanmar on numerous counts, among them the adoption of the controversial “protection of race and religion laws” which discriminate against women and ethnic minorities.
The UN also called for a fully elected parliament to lead the democratic transition, effectively taking issue with the 2008 constitution which guarantees the military 25 percent of seats.
U Kyaw Tin, Myanmar’s ambassador to the UN, responded in a written statement saying it was none of the UN’s business to interfere in Myanmar’s legislative process. “Those laws fall within the domestic jurisdiction and are not contrary to international legal obligation,” he said.
“Every sovereign state has the right to choose its own political system in accordance with history, traditions, values, realities and its constitution,” U Kyaw Tin said. He also complained about the UN using “intrusive language”.
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The third committee of the United Nations General Assembly in New York released its evaluation of Myanmar’s human rights record on November 18.
The UN criticised Myanmar on numerous counts, among them the adoption of the controversial “protection of race and religion laws” which discriminate against women and ethnic minorities.
The UN also called for a fully elected parliament to lead the democratic transition, effectively taking issue with the 2008 constitution which guarantees the military 25 percent of seats.
U Kyaw Tin, Myanmar’s ambassador to the UN, responded in a written statement saying it was none of the UN’s business to interfere in Myanmar’s legislative process. “Those laws fall within the domestic jurisdiction and are not contrary to international legal obligation,” he said.
“Every sovereign state has the right to choose its own political system in accordance with history, traditions, values, realities and its constitution,” U Kyaw Tin said. He also complained about the UN using “intrusive language”.
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NLD believes Suu Kyi can be president
Myanmar's opposition leader is planning to be the country's next president after her party overwhelmingly won this month's polls. Although the constitution bars Aung San Suu Kyi from the position -- because she was married to a foreigner and her two children are foreign nationals -- she and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), are preparing to nominate her when parliament convenes at the end of January.
In the meantime the party leader is trying to arrange face-to-face meetings with the country's current top leaders -- President Thein Sein, the parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann and the commander-in-chief, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing -- to discuss the transfer of power and national reconciliation.
Despite 59(F) (the constitutional clause which governs presidency requirements), the NLD is looking for a way for Ms Suu Kyi to become president. The party's senior leader and patron, Tin Oo, told the Bangkok Post: "We need to find a way to make that happen." Party insiders refer to Plan Zero, which seems to mean a road map to make her president.
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In the meantime the party leader is trying to arrange face-to-face meetings with the country's current top leaders -- President Thein Sein, the parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann and the commander-in-chief, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing -- to discuss the transfer of power and national reconciliation.
Despite 59(F) (the constitutional clause which governs presidency requirements), the NLD is looking for a way for Ms Suu Kyi to become president. The party's senior leader and patron, Tin Oo, told the Bangkok Post: "We need to find a way to make that happen." Party insiders refer to Plan Zero, which seems to mean a road map to make her president.
For more information - Visit here.
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