Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi wins by-election

[Emilio Aguinaldo]

Burma's Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has won a by-election for parliament, her party says, after a landmark vote that saw 45 seats contested.

Ms Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) said she had easily won in Kawhmu. Official results are not expected until later in the week.
In a statement, she urged supporters to show restraint in their celebrations.
The vote is a key test of political reforms, though the army and its allies dominate the 664-seat parliament.
The NLD was competing in its first elections since 1990.

Read full article here

Apparently Ms Suu Kyi has taken the first step in opening up Burma and paving the way for a truly democratic government to take place. However, she is still vastly opposed by the pro-junta USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party) and by MP's appointed by the military which control respectively 75 to 90 percent of both the Upper and Lower Houses of government. This all goes to saying despite the abolishment of the country's military junta and its transition to a unitary presidential republic in 2011.

In conclusion it is still hard to say if Burma would be able to see itself reinvented into a working transparent democracy within this decade. Feel free to outline your opinions and thoughts below.

[Stavroforos]

I believe the country is called Myanmar.

[♖The Balkan Sobranie♖]

The military junta's idea of a late April Fools' joke perhaps?

[Col. Tartleton]

The military junta's idea of a late April Fools' joke perhaps?

Time Zones.

[spanish_emperor]

I believe the country is called Myanmar.

Its called both Burma or Myanmar, The former was name the British applied to the region while the latter is what the people of the country prefer. I met a refugee from Myanmar who didn't like how westerners referred to the country as Burma because it brought memories of British imperialism.


Good to see democracy is arriving slowing, lets hope its not the shallow and authoritarian democracy were used to seeing in underdeveloped countries.

[Their Law]

Its called both Burma or Myanmar, The former was name the British applied to the region while the latter is what the people of the country prefer. I met a refugee from Myanmar who didn't like how westerners referred to the country as Burma because it brought memories of British imperialism.


Good to see democracy is arriving slowing, lets hope its not the shallow and authoritarian democracy were used to seeing in underdeveloped countries.

See I've encountered the opposite. I've met an ex-pat of the country who disliked Myanmar as apparently it as a label is now associated with the present regime.

At the end of the day the two names mean the same thing. Myanmar is the literary term for the dominant ethnic group. Burma is derived from Bamar which is the more colloquial form.

Where you stand on the name in Burma/Myanmar generally is around you're political viewpoint. Though by no means is that a hard and fast rule.

[hellheaven1987]

It does not matter be honest, but I do think Myanmar Burma would follow the steps of China.

Speak about Aung San Suu Kyi, isn't her father cooperated with Japanese against Allies?

[LordTemplar]

Aung San Suu Kyi being elected was widely expected. I'm more interested in the total results of the elections. Apparently the NLD has won 40 of the 45 disputed seats, which show they have a lot of public support.

The next general elections (when will it happen? 2014, 2015?) will be crucial for Myanmar. If the country proceeds with the opening, the NLD will probably win easily the next elections. I wonder what the military will do. Will they accept the results this time? Or will they act before the election, to prevent a reedition of 1990?

The most interesting part is that the NLD won in all the districts of Naypyidaw. The city is a military stronghold.

[Sigma]

Sometimes I wonder if the Myanmar government let this happen hoping simply to pacify people (and the international community) and give them a false sense of hope that the nation is taking steps to be democratic and have free elections. I just can't see a military junta like that in Myanmar simply deciding to have free elections and willingly hand over power.

[King Gambrinus]

I Have a question : why would the military suddenly decide to let the opposition win? Do they seriously believe this will lift sanctions? Do they take the USA for fools?

[Their Law]

I Have a question : why would the military suddenly decide to let the opposition win? Do they seriously believe this will lift sanctions? Do they take the USA for fools?

To be honest it's a bit of a mystery at present. The presiding theory is that they are looking for a lift of sanctions. Which combined with a deepening resentment of China amongst the populace has forced the regime to consider alternatives, which means pulling back on the authoritarianism.

Personally I think it's a byproduct of Burmese leadership shifting towards favoring India as a trade partner.