The chief of Burma, military ruler Senior General Than Shwe, has ensured that after the November 7th elections all the people of Burma, including the many ethnic minorities, will be ruled by a “disciplined democracy.” This disciplined democracy will in fact only create more fear among the people of Burma.
What is meant by “disciplined democracy”? Discipline entails strict rules and complex permissions and prohibitions. Disciplinary procedures are common in the army in order to control soldiers and maintain order. Democracy gives fundamental freedoms and basic rights to citizens within a country. Discipline and democracy are words that contradict each other. Thus, “disciplined democracy” in Burma means that the fundamental freedoms and rights of the Burmese people will be under control.
The duties of the people, therefore, are to vote for set political parties in these upcoming elections, and to accept the 2008 Constitution in which they will be governed by “new” rulers; a mix of military commanders with army uniforms and former military commanders in civilian clothing.
After the November 7th elections, when the “new” government applies this “disciplined democracy,” it [the new government] will be like old wine in a new bottle. Under the disciplined democratic system, the people, the media, civil society organizations, and the academic community will be unable to exercise freedom of expression against the new government’s policies, the corruption among officials, worsening social and economic conditions, the civil war, and human rights abuses. Freedom of association and assembly and demonstrations or strikes against the government will be completely prohibited, and those involved will be arrested and detained according to oppressive laws and regulations under this “disciplined democracy”. However, freedom of association to support the new government will be allowed and supported with funds.
The Burmese army (tatmadaw) will be absolutely backed by this “new” government, modernizing and improving the tatmadaw by equipping with new weapons and military facilities. The government will increase spending on the defense sector, and the civil war against the ethnic minority insurgents will be intensified. The freedom of ethnic political voices and freedom of movement in ethnic areas will be terminated by the regime.
The wider international community, including the United Nations, United States, European governments, and ASEAN demands for free, fair and inclusive elections. Also, the people in Burma have openly demonstrated that they need a “liberal democracy.” From the 1988 pro-democracy uprising to the 1990 general elections and up until the 2007 saffron revolution, all walks of people in Burma demonstrated their need for “liberal democracy”, but now, they will be forced to accept a “disciplined democracy” against their will. The Burmese military regime will not allow free, fair, and inclusive elections for fear that a “disciplined democracy” would not be the outcome.
The Burmese military regime has planned these November 7th elections in order to create a “sham parliament”. The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), a proxy of the current regime, including other minority political parties and military police (MP) in the parliament, will win in a landslide. These elections will result in the citizens of Burma being forced to abide by a “new” government which will enforce a disciplined democracy where their freedoms will be limited.
