[Following editorial has been published in The Hindu on 17th March 2016. Read through it and try to answer the questions that follow. Please do not copy and paste answers. The objective of this exercise is to get you in the groove of answer-writing. Try to write in your own words. Don't hesitate to write in a bulleted-format, if you are uncomfortable in writing in paragraph form.]
The election of U Htin Kyaw as Myanmar’s President is a watershed moment in its history. Mr. Htin Kyaw’s government would be its most democratic administration since 1962 when the military seized power. During this period, the generals ran a repressive regime that denied the people even basic democratic rights and isolated the country internationally. For Myanmar’s pro-democracy camp, the election is a moment of joy, and sorrow. Finally a legitimate, democratic government is in place, but there is deep disappointment at the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi, their “rightful” leader, could not become the President. A provision in the military-era Constitution bars Ms. Suu Kyi from assuming the highest office as her children are foreign citizens. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) lacks the parliamentary power to rewrite the Constitution. Efforts by Ms. Suu Kyi to reach a settlement with the generals did not bear fruit either. It was against this background that she nominated Mr. Htin Kyaw, an economist and writer she has known from her early school days, as the party’s presidential candidate. Ms. Suu Kyi has made it clear that she will be in control of the government, irrespective of her constitutional status.
While the formation of a democratic government is clearly a firm step forward, the new government faces an uphill task. Primarily, it has to address the deep economic problems. Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in Asia. In the years of isolation under the junta, economic growth stagnated, trapping millions in acute poverty. Getting the economy back on track is no easy task, and Myanmar will need regional and global assistance. Besides, though the generals have agreed to civilian takeover of political power, they still wield enormous influence over Myanmar’s institutions. One-quarter of seats in both Houses of Parliament are reserved for the military. This prevents any constitutional amendments without the military’s approval. The military also has direct control of three key Ministries: defence, home affairs and border affairs. Two recent actions of the military indicate it is still not ready to cede influence over institutions completely. The first is its refusal to let Ms. Suu Kyi become the President. It knew that if Ms. Suu Kyi, hugely popular at home and widely respected abroad, becomes President, that could expedite the country’s transition into a full democracy. Second, by successfully getting Myint Swe, a controversial retired general who served the previous junta, elected as one of the two vice-presidents, the military has sent a clear message to the government that it is not going to completely stay away from power. But the good news is that the balance of power has clearly shifted in favour of the pro-democracy camp after the November elections. Ms. Suu Kyi and President Htin Kyaw will have to tread cautiously but purposefully to build on the democratic gains, and expedite Myanmar’s transition into a full democracy.
Questions:
1. It is said that Burma (present day Myanmar) was a part of British India and was administered by the same government which administered mainland India? Is it true? If yes then why was it separated out of India?
2. Why is the recent Presidential election of Myanmar being considered as a watershed moment in the history of the country?
3. What is understood by a military rule? How is it different from a democratic government?
4. Mention a few nations which has been through military regimes? What were the effects of such regimes on those nations?
5. Who is Aung San Suu Kyi? What are her contributions towards establishing Democracy in Myanmar? Why did she not run for the post of the President in the recent elections?
6. What are the issues currently being faced by Myanmar?
7. "Establishment of democracy in Myanmar is in the interest of both India and the world." Comment.
1824 First-Anglo Burmese war ended with the signing of treaty of Yandaboo. According to this treaty Burma ceded the Arakan coastal strip between Chittagong and cape Negrais to British India.
ReplyDelete1852 Second Anglo Burmese war Britain annexed lower Burma including Rangoon. But it was in 1885 the British captured Mandalay after a battle and Burma eventually became the province of British India.
In 1937 Britain separated Burma from India on the grounds that people of Burma are different in all aspects and moreover issues related to Burma are completely different to the issues related to India. This would enhance better administration.
The recent Presidential election of Myanmar is being considered as a watershed moment in the history of the country because of the following reasons:
ReplyDelete1.It is after more than 50 years that a civilian is the Head of the State. As Myanmar has got a democratically elected government.
2.Myanmar is one of the poorest country of the world among 186 nations rated in the 2013 Human Development report of the United Nations Development Programme its rank is 149. This election will provide an opportunity to the Myanmar country to change this and to get its economy back on track.
3.Establish itself at a global level. By getting into various agreements to improve the condition of the State.
1. It is said that Burma (present day Myanmar) was a part of British India and was administered by the same government which administered mainland India? Is it true? If yes then why was it separated out of India?
ReplyDeleteIndeed Burma was administered as part of British India, captured after three Anglo-Burmese Wars. However, prior to being colonized, it was its own country culturally, linguistically and ethnically different from India. It was separated from British India in 1937 after having its own freedom struggle with a Burmese leader at the helm, Aung San. During the 1920s the first protests by the Burmese were launched against the British rule. However, complete independence was granted to Burma after an agreement with the British in 1947 January.
2. Why is the recent Presidential election of Myanmar being considered as a watershed moment in the history of the country?
Reasons for recent Presidential elections being considered a watershed moment in Myanmar’s history are:
i) After election of a democratically elected President, the country finally has a chance to move away from a repressive military regime and improve the economic conditions of its people.
ii) Previously, Myanmar did conduct free and fair elections in 1990 which the military refused to accept, in 2010 the NLD boycotted elections and in 2012 NLD contested the by elections. Thus, it is the first national election since the country embarked on a transition.
3. What is understood by a military rule? How is it different from a democratic government?
It is a form of government where all the political power resides with the military. The military rule may be official or unofficial. Typically, military rule in a country is governed by the ‘Junta’ which means a Board consisting of the military’s most senior leadership.
Unlike a democratic government, the military regime is now answerable to the people and is not elected by the people. There is no transparency and a large amount of human rights violations are reported against which the people are helpless. They undermine the authority of other institutions like the judiciary which is powerless to force its mandate onto them. It is essentially a dictatorship.
4. Mention a few nations which has been through military regimes? What were the effects of such regimes on those nations?
Examples of nations who have undergone military regimes are Libya, Rwanda, Argentina, Cuba, China, Pakistan, Spain etc.
Military regimes rapidly deteriorate the condition of the State’s Constitution since they form their own set of rules upon coming to power and are not bound by the Constitution. This centralization of power with the Army gives rise to separatist sentiments, provincialism and a real threat for disintegration of the country. The civilian institutions within the country are manipulated beyond their purpose e.g., President is appointed by the military as a mere stamp to approve of their actions. Decisions taken by the military are not in the interest of the nation or its people but in the interest of the Army. Since, the country’s most powerful people are the military, everyone panders to them to remain in their good books and avail their favours. Citizens not doing the same are deprived of any benefits. There is no space for civil liberties or to express dissent.
6. What are the issues currently being faced by Myanmar?
ReplyDeletei) Years of military rule has left behind child soldiers, high rates of infant mortality and trafficking of children into the sex trade as its legacy.
ii) There have been incidents of sectarian violence in the nations against Rohingya Muslims with thousands forced to flee the country.
iii) The economy of Myanmar is in shambles with the country being one of the poorest in Asia with almost 70% of its population residing in villages.
iv) Land ownership and control is a crucial issue on which a Bill has been drafted which seeks to provide assured tenure to small holders and fair compensation when land is acquired.
v) The country is in a resource crunch as mining projects have caused longstanding damage to the environment and the people’s livelihood.
vi) Myanmar needs to improve its connectivity to the rest of the world to improve its economy whether by road connectivity or communications.