After the November 7th, 2010 elections, the ruling regime has gradually been completing its seven-point road map by holding its first parliamentary session. The new central government and State and Division governments have been formed, and the president, vice-presidents and Chief Ministers have also been elected and appointed. However, it is clear to see that all powers are monopolized by a single party, the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
With a single party rule in which most representatives are former military commanders from the Burmese Army or former military regime – State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), can they proceed towards democratization in Burma? Freedom of expression is a fundamental principle of democracy, and we can use it in measuring whether the new government in Burma (Myanmar) is ready to become a democracy for the people.
Accordingly to the strict rules of the regime to not openly report on what is happening in the union, national and people’s parliaments, and blockages to State and Division parliaments, the media and the journalists are not able to write freely on political discussion. State televisions are silent on the discussions in the parliament.
The recent arrest of Mr. Ross Dunkley, who is an Australian citizen and chief editor of The Myanmar Times, the only foreign invested newspaper in both the English and Burmese languages, showed the new regime’s manipulation against the press. Now, the regime has Mr. Dunkley with Dr. Tin Tun Oo, a man backed by the regime, as the company’s chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of the Myanmar-language edition of The Myanmar Times. Interfering and manipulating in the press means the regime is trying to influence the press. Mr. Dunkley also planned to produce the newspaper on a daily basis and increase more freedom for the newspaper amid the regime’s intensive censorship.
Various types of media mostly based in Rangoon have also suffered from intensive censorship by the authorities. Although the government officials have changed, censorship remains the same. Journalists do not have space to write people’s thoughts on the new government and adopted policies. Even before the November 7th elections, the people were silent, and now, they are silent because they are too afraid to speak out.
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press is important for the people. After the elections, the people may have to speak out about the problems they experience with their livelihoods, social and economic situation, health care, and education. The main responsibility of the media is to carry the voices of the people to elected members in the parliaments.
If the new government does not initiate freedom of expression to be exercised by the people or by media, it means they have no intention to create a democracy for the people in Burma. If so, the November 7th elections are meaningless.
