"If Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were to be elected "....
Source : Japan Today
Japan Today Discussion
"If Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were to be elected "....
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)+3 helded in , in Brunei Darussalam in first week of November 2001.
In the afternoon of 5 November 2001, in Brunei Darussalam, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a Summit Meeting with the Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar Senior-General Than Shwe. The following is a summary of the meeting.
Prime Minister Koizumi highly valued the efforts by the Government of Myanmar in releasing political detainees and called for further efforts to be made.
Prime Minister Koizumi stated his expectation that efforts would continue towards democratization, while noting the role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Prime Minister Than Shwe stated that efforts towards democratization would continue and that whatever role Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would play in the process of democratization, it would not be a matter with which the military government would interfere.
Prime Minister Koizumi stated Japan would cooperate with Myanmar in efforts towards democratization.
1. Increasing Friendly and Cooperative Relations between Japan and Myanmar
(1) Prime Minister Koizumi made the following statements:
Japan feels a tremendous sense of closeness with Myanmar and there are likely to be a number of fields in which cooperation can be undertaken in the future. While both countries are currently enduring domestic difficulties, efforts should be made towards reform.
For Japan, regional cooperation with the countries of Southeast Asia is of particular importance and continuing cooperation between Japan and Myanmar would be to the benefit of the region as a whole.
(2) In response, Prime Minister Than Shwe made the following statements:
Myanmar is currently making efforts in political reform towards a parliamentary system and democracy, in addition to economic reforms in a move from nationalization to privatization.
Myanmar is currently experiencing domestic issues of ethnic minorities and armed groups.
Japan is considered a special partner by Myanmar and whether or not Japan grants Myanmar assistance and cooperation, Myanmar always considers Japan as a friend.
2. Call for Democratization
(1) Prime Minister Koizumi made the following statements:
The recent release of many political detainees was something that was highly appreciated. Such efforts should be continued in the future.
It is expected that further efforts will continue towards democratization in Myanmar, with due attention paid to the fact that the international community is watching the role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Japan is keen to offer cooperation in such endeavors.
Japan understands that amidst many issues such as that of armed groups and ethnic minorities Myanmar is making efforts towards reconciliation, and hopes that such efforts will be continued.
(2) In response, Prime Minister Than Shwe stated that efforts towards democratization would continue and that whatever position Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would be given in the process of democratization, it would bear no relation to the current government of the Union of Myanmar. Prime Minister Than Shwe added that if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were to be elected in an election, then the military government would not interfere as it would be part of the democratic process.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Oyaji-san (Nov 2 2002 - 11:09)
" if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were to be elected in an election"
If she 'were' to be elected? She already 'has' been elected in the internationally supervised elections in 1991 when her party the NLD won over 80% of the votes.
THe Junta chose to ignore the results, imprisoned Suu Kyi and thousands of her supporters, crushed dissent and the free press, slaughtered thousands of ethnic hilltribes in brutal suppression of minorities and made deals with internationally wanted drug dealers such as Khun Sa who now lives happily with military protection in Rangoon.
Maybe it's time the military stopped telling the Burmese what's good for them and let them decide for themselves through their elected representatives?
Practising Universal Rules .....
naydun (Nov 2 2002 - 11:50)
Oyaji-san said in Japan Today Discussion (Nov 2 2002 - 11:09)that
"If she 'were' to be elected? She (Aung San Suu Kyi) already 'has' been elected in the internationally supervised elections in 1991 when her party the NLD won over 80% of the votes."
Dear Oyaji-san
The following article will clear you that Aung San Suu Kyi never stood for the election in 1991.
Thank you for the interest in Myanmar's affairs.
Regards,
Nay Dun
"Practising Universal Rules In The Protection Of National Security And Interest"
More specifically and importantly what most people do not realize is
that in many instances Ms. Suu Kyi is erroneously referred to as an elected person or in some instances as an elected president. Ms. Suu Kyi never stood for the election because she was not eligible to contest a seat.
It was not this present military government or the previous socialist government that refused Ms. Suu Kyi the right to stand for elections but ironically it was her own father, Myanmar national hero General Aung San, who wrote
into the original constitution, subsequently promulgated in 1948, a clause with the provision that "any person who is under any acknowledgement of allegiance or adherence to a foreign power, or a subject or citizen is entitled to the rights and privileges of a subject or citizen of a foreign
power." Thus she is not entitled to contest a seat in the country's elections.
Ms. Suu Kyi resided abroad for twenty-eight years and married an
Englishman (Giving her the rights to U.K. citizenship) and has 2 children both holding British citizenship. This present military government has to, as all the previous successive Myanmar Governments did, continue to
honour this clause and the present national convention has also committed itself to continue to honour the said clause. This type of constitutional condition is implemented by many governments including those of developed nations.
It is quite understandable that Governments do not wish to have someone in office who could be unduly influenced by any other nation or power. As a preventive measure certain rules and regulations are universally drawn up and put into effect to serve as a mechanism to protect the national security as well as the national interest of the respective
countries.
There is also another false assumption where her being under house restriction during the election period denied her the right to run for the 1990 election. While under house restriction the Government of Myanmar consented to Ms. Suu Kyi's request to contest the election representing Bahan Township Constituency(1) and her name was enrolled on 2nd December 1989.
Objections were lodged by various individuals and political parties against the permission granted to Ms. Suu Kyi to contest the forthcoming elections with reference to the provisions of the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law of 1989. Legally, granting Ms. Suu Kyi the right to contest the election was found to violate and contravene the following 3 articles.
(1) Section (8-b) "Law for people residing in the Union of
Myanmar."
Ms. Suu Kyi has given her permanent address where she
resides with her husband Dr.Michael Aris and 2 sons at 15,
Park Town, Oxford, in United Kingdom. Ms. Suu Kyi's name has not been registered at her mother's residence in Yangon
which indicates that she is not a permanent resident of Myanmar.
(2) Section (10-e). " Persons who are under any acknowledgement of allegiance or adherence to a foreign power, or are subjects or citizens or entitled to the rights
and privileges of a subject or a citizen of a foreign Power."
Ms. Suu Kyi enjoys the right to reside in U.K. indefinitely. Apart from the right to vote, she enjoys all the other privileges of a British Citizen.
(3) Section (10-h)." Members of organization in armed revolt
against the State, persons against whom there is sufficient grounds of having links with the said organization or with its members to revolt."
Ms.Suu Kyi was found to be communicating, collaborating and harbouring a member of the armed terrorist group and this terrorist was arrested in her residential compound in Yangon together with substantial evidence.
Due to the above mentioned factors Ms. Suu Kyi was found ineligible
to contest the 1990 elections. Technically it was not because she was under house restriction during the election time. More importantly, Section 10-e of the May 1989 Election Law was not a provision drawn up by the present military government but was originally drafted by her own father, General Aung San, the National Leader of Modern Myanmar in his (1947) Independence Constitution which was later to be honoured and again put in the (1974) Constitution.
Again, in a similar scenario the NLD party is constantly and erroneously referred to as an opposition party. In fact, the Government of Myanmar does not regard the NLD or any other 9 legally existing political
parties as opposition parties since the Government regards itself not as a political party but as a transitional government (A National Institution) taking the responsibility of discarding the Socialist One-Party System
practising a Socialist Economy and paving the way for a Multi-Party
Democracy by introducing a Market-Oriented Economy.
In the meantime, for the benefit and interest of the nation, this present government is in the
process of establishing and founding national unity, peace, stability and allround development in the country so that Myanmar shall become in a reasonable period of time, a peaceful, prosperous and modern developed
nation.
Reference:
"Political Situation of Myanmar
And Its Role in the Region"
by Col. Hla Min, Ministry of Defence,
Myanmar
NLD & Aung San Suu Kyi Inseparable
Khur Tai Korn Khaw (Nov 2 2002 - 16:41)
Regardless of the twist and bent of the Burmese junta so-called "The Protection Of National Security And Interest", Aung San Suu Kyi remains the most revered democratic leader of Burma.
It is interesting to note that the military has done everything to block her from nation-wide 1990 election, hoping her NLD party will not do well without her. But the landslide victory of the NLD in 1990 was the direct contribution of her popularity and love among the people.
Even today, any reconciliation or political settlement talk has to be conducted with her. If one looks at the recent development domestically or internationally, her political stature looms very large and it is a fact that no one could deny it.
She is like Xanana Gusmo of East Timor or better still; Xanana resembles her, where political backing of the people is concerned. Xanana refused to the last moment to participate in the election of the Presidential chair and only give in to the people's pressure at the last minutes.
Likewise, it is not important if the military junta and its underlings like to portray her as not eligible under so and so law, which mostly are drawn to suit the military's desire. But it is more important that the people of Burma are with Aung San Suu Kyi and their unwavering popular supports, which the people have again and again demonstrated.
Finally, it is fair to conclude that NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi are the head and tail of the same coin. Thus the support for NLD could be interpreted as the support for her. The 1990 nation-wide election had done just that and anyone who likes to argue the contrary is either insane or out of mind.
"Shan Leader" to Sao Hso Hom
saoseng (Nov 2 2002 - 18:34)
Khur Tai Korn Khaw
I want to give title of "Shan Leader" to Sao Hso Hom, son of Mongpawn Sawbwa Sao San Tun who fought British together with General Aung San for the independence of Myanmar (Burma), father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I think he is more educated, respected and approaited among Shan people than Khun Tun Oo.
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