Myanmar Elections: A mockery of Democracy

Myanmar’s first election in 20 years will be held on November 7, 2010. The military’s junta has been ruling the country since last two decades and this dicission has not come as a surprise. The fact is that junta is feeling the international condemnation for the human rights violations taken place in Myanmar over the years. Hence, in 2002, military’s junta had promised seven steps to roadmap towards disciplined – flourishing democracy in which fair and free election is the fifth step.

But it just seems to be a well scripted propaganda of military’s junta to avoid more sanctions by USA administration and to avoid immense pressure from human rights organization across the globe against its human rights violations in Myanmar.

To keep ‘democratic’ leaders out of power, Myanmar’s election commission has recently dissolved 10 political parties, including the National League for Democracy. More than 2000 political activist were under house arrest including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a leader who supports true democracy and also the Nobel Peace Price laureate. The Political Parties Registration Law, introduced by military’s junta, forbids electoral participation by any member of a political party who has been convicted in court.

It is pretty clear that the Myanmar Election 2010 will be a mockery of Democracy if all political leaders are not allowed to take part in peaceful political activism.

(In support to campaign by Amnesty International)

Gaurang Raval