U Win Tin Editorial: Why Elections In Burma Are Not A Good Idea
by ERICA LIEPMANN, Causecast Associate Editor
In his recent editorial for The Washington Post, National League for Democracy leader U Win Tin criticizes U.S. Senator Webb’s diplomatic approach and explains why pushing for 2010 elections aren’t the right strategy for Burma. While unwaveringly promoting democracy, U Win Tin suggests a strategy focused on engaging constructive dialogue with the military junta.
Keep up with Causecast’s Freedom to Lead page for more information on the situation in Burma, the National League for Democracy and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
From The Washington Post
Much attention has been focused on Sen. James Webb’s recent visit to my country and his meetings with Senior Gen. Than Shwe and incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. I understand Webb’s desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the Burmese ruling authorities. Unfortunately, his efforts have been damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue — the potential for an “election” that Webb wants us to consider participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy. But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military dictatorship permanent.
In our last free election, the Burmese people rejected military rule in a landslide, awarding our National League for Democracy party more than 80 percent of the seats in parliament. Yet the military has refused to allow the NLD to form a government. In the 19 years since that election, Burmese democracy activists have faced imprisonment, intimidation, torture and death as they have peacefully voiced demands for justice, individual and ethnic rights, and a democratic form of government that is representative of all Burma’s people.
Photo by Asela, flickr.
- Posted by Causecast
Related causes: Human Rights
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