Rizwan Ghani
American Chronicle, California
February 13, 2008

Reportedly, Military junta has promised multiparty elections in 2010 as part of country's roadmap to democracy. In May 2008, a referendum is being held for approval of the constitution. Military has ruled the country since 1962 on different pretexts. Military refused to recognize results of 1990 elections in which Aung San Suu Kyi´s NLD party won the elections. Kyi has been kept under detentions for different reasons during much of the interim period.

It is not clear if all the major political parties will be allowed to participate in the elections. The Junta´s announcement didn't make clear whether detained opposition leader Kyi will be allowed to participate in the elections either.

The country's opposition leaders have rejected the plan as a ploy to diffuse international pressure including calls from UN for the restoration of democracy in the country. It is a public relations spin following last year's fuel price hike riots and it has nothing to do with democracy, said Burma Campaign UK. It is no coincidence that the announcement comes at a time when the regime is facing increasing economic sanctions following brutal crack-down on pro-democracy demonstrations, said Campaign Director Mark Farmaner.

In other words, Burma has to choose between 'disciplined democracy´ or boycott the elections and wait for another three or four decades in deadlock. It is pertinent that NLD participates in 2010 elections. The party boycotted a national convention on Principles for a Disciplined Democracy that was completed in late 2007 after 14 years. A committee of mainly military officers and civil servants assigned to draft constitution would finish its work soon and a nationwide referendum will be held in May 2008 to ratify the constitution.

In terms of upcoming referendum the opposition is of the opinion that in wake of the details released the constitution being put for approval through referendum has been framed in such a way that absolves military of its past doings. The approval of the constitution will allow the military junta to walk free and in case of its rejection, the public will have no option but to live under military rule for another decade. The snippets of the constitution´s basic principles do not point to any transfer of power to a civilian administration.

In a statement issued in the name of Sec. No 1 Lt. Gen T. A M. Oo it was said that Junta has achieved success in economic, social and other sectors and restoring peace and stability so multi-party elections will be held in 2010. The independent observers however have rejected claims of economic and social stability in Burma as public struggles to survive at grassroots while country´s military leadership enjoys an opulent lifestyle at the cost of public exchequer.

The country has staged many unsuccessful and bloody struggles in the past for the restoration of democracy and end of military rule. Thousand have lost their lives in their struggle for rule of law but these efforts failed due to lack of moral and diplomatic support by the international community. In this regard US, India and China need to play a more pro-active role to help restore democracy in the country for the benefit of ordinary people in Burma and the global security.

The existence of quasi and pseudo democracies and dictatorial regimes in 21st century show double standards of advanced states. It is hard to imagine that any such repressive regime can actually exist without overt or covert support of advanced worlds. It is about time advanced world abandons its stakes and help third world countries free from such political shackles of such regimes that are lording over hapless third world in the name of people and their countries. The list of such nations is growing with every passing day.

Lastly, military junta should be pressurized diplomatically and morally to accelerate the process of holding elections in accordance to universal democratic standards without fail and hand over the power to the rightful winners of national elections. The opposition leadership and the public itself should play a positive role in helping all concerned restore true democracy to the country instead of pushing the country under ´disciplined democracy´ which to many politicians is name of another horse that military junta will ride until it finds a better one. If true, there couldn´t be a worst example of such large scale public deception in the name of democracy and those participating in this upcoming sham are nothing but criminals of global community and democracy.