The junta's vote for repression

Sein Win May 5, 2008

It is not often that there is fair warning of a comprehensive abuse of political rights. But in Burma, we know the day that this abuse will take place: This coming Saturday. This is the day of the referendum called by Burma's military regime on the draft constitution it has prepared.

The preparation of the draft constitution has been anything but democratic and inclusive. The process has excluded all democratic groups and parties, including the National League of Democracy, which won Burma's last democratic elections in 1990. It has also excluded the legitimate representatives of Burma's many ethnic groups.


The constitution proposed by the regime - the State Peace and Development Council - is one that would leave the military in power, regardless of the wishes of the Burmese population.

The elections that the regime have proposed to follow the referendum in 2010 would not permit the participation of many democratic parties and individuals, including the leader of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest, now for over 12 years.

In order to view the draft constitution, Burmese citizens - who, thanks to the regime's disastrous economic policies, are among the poorest in the world - are required to purchase the 194-page document. Already, the ruling junta is organizing acts of intimidation and violence to bully the population to vote yes to the constitution. Despite the obvious risks to their lives and liberty, opposition groups have decided to participate in the referendum and vote no.

The regime wants to present this false referendum and anti-democratic constitution as part of a transition to democracy. The reality of the referendum is a cynically calculated act to pretend to meet the demands of the international community, including the UN Security Council, which has specifically demanded an inclusive constitutional process.

Since the violent repression of demonstrations led by Burma's revered monks in September, the UN has conducted a "good offices" mission to try to find a way forward in Burma. So far, the ruling junta has shown no sign of permitting any kind of inclusive constitutional and democratic process. Their tactics seem to be to stave off international pressure by slowing down any dialogue with the UN, and promising empty changes, such as its new constitution.

These evasive tactics must not be tolerated. The UN Security Council, along with Asean, the European Union and Burma's immediate neighbors, must call this referendum what it really is and demand an inclusive constitutional process, leading to genuinely democratic and open elections.

These countries - the international community - must insist on objective international monitoring of the referendum - perhaps by Burma's democratic regional neighbors like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, or Indonesia - and, if this is refused, draw the obvious conclusion.

It is time for the international community to increase the economic pressure on the military senior leadership via the mechanism of targeted sanctions, including investment freezes. Those countries in Asean, as well as China and India, which are the military's major trading and investment partners, must cease propping up the regime with currency, revenue and arms.

It is not in anyone's long-term interests for a regime that lacks any legitimacy to continue in power in Burma. No economic investment can prosper in such circumstances and the risk of widespread turmoil and instability can only increase. Above all, the abuse of the human rights of Burma's people must be stopped.

The country's democratic opposition proposes a way out of this crisis and suffering for the Burmese people. We are not looking for revolution or violent overthrow of the regime, but a peaceful transition to a situation where Burma is stable and democratically governed.

What this requires is a constitutional process that includes all parties, including the military, democratic parties and representatives of the many ethnic groups that make up contemporary Burma. All these groups must have a say in Burma's constitutional settlement, as they must too play a part in any future government. The proper atmosphere for such a process also requires the release of political prisoners and the end to hostilities in Burma's ethnic regions.

The military regime pretends that the referendum is a step toward democracy. It is in reality a massive and comprehensive denial of the democratic and political rights of the Burmese people. It is essential that the international community recognizes this fake referendum for what it is.

Sein Win is chairman of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, which is outlawed by the military junta.

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