Dilemma: Boycott or Vote NO
Feb 23rd, 2008
DILEMMA: BOYCOTT OR VOTE NO
…
Burmese pro-democracy activists are in real dilemma now.
- If pro-democracy activists ask people to participate in the referendum to vote “NO” to regime’s pro-military constitution, there are two possible outcomes: _
_ The “NO” vote may win and regime’s pro-military constitution may be defeated.
(OR)
_ Regime may use tricks and rig votes and declare that they win, regardless of the real result. In that case, the participation by pro-democracy activists and people in the referendum may just give some credibility to regime’s sham roadmap. - If pro-democracy activists ask people NOT to participate in the referendum, there are also two possibilities: _
_ The boycott by pro-democracy activists and people will damage the credibility of regime’s referendum
_ But, the boycott may give regime a chance to say “We gave you a fair chance to express your views in the referendum, but you failed to take the opportunity, and you have only yourself to blame!”
And here we must keep in mind that as soon as a new constitution takes effect, everything that happened prior to the new constitution may generally be, supposed to have been, wiped out slate-clean. It means that any previous election results may automatically expire once the new constitution has been approved by the referendum.
- And, if pro-democracy parties take part in new elections in 2010 , there still are two possibilities: _
_ The pro-democracy parties may win the elections; but it may very likely be a fruitless or futile victory because 2008 constitution bars pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from being elected, and it gives 25% of seats in the parliament to military officers, and it states that the President must come from military background, and it allows military to veto any decisions by the parliament, and it gives permission to military to annex power at any time they want.
(OR)
_ The regime may use its lackey militant prganizations like Kyant-phut or Swan-arr-shin to intimidate and to prevent people from voting for pro-democracy parties, delivering a de-facto defeat to the pro-democracy parties.… - If pro-democracy parties boycott 2010 elections, there are also two possibilities: _
_ The boycott by pro-democracy activists will damage the credibility of 2010 elections.
_ But, it will effectively clear the way for pro-regime lackey parties and military officers to control 100% of seats in the parliament.
So please give your opinion on how pro-democracy parties should, and could, respond to regime’s referendum and election challenges.
You can write your opinion in the comment box below.
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February 23rd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Hay friends,
Before the 2010 election, we should assisnate Burma militatry generals then wait and see what is the response? some time we should play bloody wicket games with mother fucker. our political deadlocked situation could not give acurate answer for your questions that is my serious response. I am tired of Bla…Bla…Bla. and waiting 20 years is enough.
Kyar Khin sein( 88’s generation)
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I highly suspect that the NLD will enter the election. More precisely, the NLD will walk the path once the exiles from the US suggested in 2003. The exiles from the Free Burma Coalition called for the NLD’s joining of the Road Map process. Now the NLD is seriously thinking of this path. The NLD, despite the exiles’ outcry, did not outrightly reject the possibility that it will contest in the election. Well, the NLD will.
The game is much simpler now. The Security Council’s action now turns out to be an empty cannon. The UN, US, EU, ASEAN, China and Japan have shown their constrain on making a crucial change in Burma. The election in 2010 will effectively null its legitimacy it once enjoyed as the result of the 1990 election. I think the NLD will be wise this time and get into the Road Map process but the NLD will have much less gain from it compared to what it could have achieved in 2003.
February 24th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Dear Burma Digest,
The following is Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) has been organized the palaung people to do.
We should NOT support the constitution organized by the SPDC’s artificial national convention.
We should support the UN Secretary-General’s leading role in creating fair and just dialogues within Burma.
Prodemocracy activist and ethnic nationalities, should support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her leading role fully to initiate political dialogue amongst all groups.
We should reject any referendum held by the military junta.
If the military junta forces a referendum, we should request th respective representatives from the UN observe and other countrises the election closely.
We should not cooperate with the SPDC’s Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) and oppose all events of the USDA.
USDA monopolizes regional governing:
People from other USDA regions are now included in regional governing bodies, and the military regime and the USDA members are trying to put pressure on locals to pass the referendum completely in all regions.
The USDA is trying to act as follows in the Paluang regions:
Dominate the governance of township and villages
Pressure locals to support their organization and activities
Controlling loans and permission to use motorcycles
Making recommendations about the national ID cards
In the future, the USDA is intending to:
Pay a visit to the hilly regions to issue the registration cards.
Allow only USDA members to have motorcycle license permits.
Organize its members to control where the road map movement issues are implemented.
If the road map scheme is successful, the number of USDA members will increase, and they intend to participate at the future elections together with other main rival political parties, (to form a government itself).
Future Military Regime Referendum:
The National Convention’s drafing committee has written a final its onstitution and the military regime is persuading the representatives from the various groups to vote in favor of this constitution. At many locations, the military junta is placing USDA members in the area to organize favorable votes. They will take inappropriate actions to exert pressure during the referendum, and they will also take advantages of the unstable internal situation.
Best regards,
Mai Aik Phone
Palaung State Liberation front (PSLF)
February 24th, 2008 at 6:13 am
people would be forced to vote by fining hopefully.
February 24th, 2008 at 6:24 am
The plan of SPDC’s referendum and election is a big strike for opposition side. It is still making so many mixed chorales of pros and cons among the people.
For the opposition side, we need to have an aggreement how we are going to respond the SPDC’s plan. Especially the NLD is necessary to make clear cut decision for the future of their political stand, and what they are going to do, how they want to lead the country, and what do they have their vision of the impossible dialogue.
The SPDC may also has the hidden plan if they loose for the referendum. I think, they will make sure to win the way they want in referendum. Even they loose it, they may have a chance to drag for buying time to rewrite for the constitution. If let it happen whatever the way they want to do accoroing to what they have announced the referendum in May, there is no good sign for the NLD for their their polotical stand and for the movement as well.
If we look back the Shwewayoung Revolution in last Spetember, it is the great revolution in the history in the past. However they did not reach their goal for the peace and the political settlement. We did not see any the leadership position of the NLD during that time, not even a strong statement.
I want to say the NLD participation and position is still taking vital role in our struggle no matter what they are going with plan or without plan. the International organizations and the governments, and inculding the United Nations only recognize the NLD as a leading organization of Burma struggle.
I do believe that there we need a party or an organization like the NLD for the revolutionary movement or to create the decisive battle between the SPDC and the opposition forces.
I do believe if we can do the National Uprising to stop the referedum, there could be broke down the running mechanism of the SPDC.
In this situation, if we go for the decisive battle or we create another mass movement without the NLD, I do not believe that there will be an end game or a good resolve for the poeple of Burma.
I personally pushed the people Burma to go for the revolution whenever I had opportunities to speak on the radio especially from DVB before the Shaffaron revoltuion had happened. I am still doing sometimes but I personally do not want to push again without the NLD or a political leading group who can take place instead of SPDC in our country.
We can hope the best and we can prepare for the best also to brake down the SPDC’s mechanism with NLD or fianlly not even without the NLD.
ShweSinHtun
adpfmburma.com
February 24th, 2008 at 11:06 am
we should boycot the referedum, if regime rig the vote and declear that they win, we all must donate money and moral to whom really love our country those who taking weapons and fighting for freedom.
We need to be united to all of union of burma.
February 24th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Hello Burma Digest:
The situation is very difficult to say what is really going to happen exactly. Anyway this situation is much better than SPDC is quiet and do what they want. Atleast we can able to hear an alart. I won’t say loud, because SPDC is powerful and always try to get one step to the lead. For saying this, I do not scare SPDC, this is as an result that according to what I had learn before.
My suggesstion are:
First choice:
1) NLD does not agree with SPDC’s Road Map, but NLD must be very diplomatic with SPDC not for being out of stage or stand. Hopefully, SPDC will let NLD to participate on their way.
2) Some activist and youth may really strongly against SPDC’s steps, some NLD members may included in this activities but NLD had to take action for those NLD members to built trust with SPDC.
3) Even DASSK can’t be in parliment, she can still be leader of NLD party so she may still have a chance to educate or change the way to democratic principle slowly.
4) To play this type of game, resistance and understanding among the prodemocracy activist is very necessary. And, UN special envoy may need to approach NLD and SPDC to work together.
5) Power struggle between NLD and SPDC is according to the strength of activists and education of democratic ideas in the Military. It may be very difficult to do or take times, but hard to find a way from current situation in Burma.
6) There will be changes but nobody may not be able to win completely and only answer is “WORK TOGETHER”. Reconstruction process of democratic principle in BURMA will take times.
Second Choice:
1) NLD still keep quiet and maintain on current situation without participation with SPDC.
2) Wait for the time until SPDC to declare the results of 1990 election has been cancelled. ( Hopefully, SPDC will not declare to abolish NLD because which was found under SLORC’s rule.)
AND
Expect for another prodemocracy movement to change Junta.
3) Reform NLD for a little, entering new election, then send some MPs to the parliament.
Third Choice:
1) NLD need to call for a battle between SPDC and prodemocracy activists.
2) NLD party will be abolish by SPDC and almost all NLD leaders will be sent to prison.
3) There will be a demonstration, and will be crush down by SPDC, then will be send more people to prison.
3) God of Nay Win will rule Burma for another at least 26 years.
Thanks,
CKK
February 24th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I think we should clearly object their constitution. As the Burma history obviously has showed that they will do anything what they want. Even though they said 1990 election was fair, they rejected. It showed they will reject again if they won’t have the result they want. They don’t care anythhing- playing tricks or lying is not a problem for them. Their constitution and election will be the most dangerous things for our country. Their frriends, China and Asean are waiting for such approval. As we are responsible to respect the lives and blood of our heros who have sacrificed for our revoltion and our country, we need to decide carefully. If our people unitedly object them, they cannot do a lot with them and they have to listen to the UN, or choose the new way which may be improved, even a little.
February 25th, 2008 at 1:08 am
The dilemma is ‘whether to vote or not to vote’ ; if we decided to vote then it’s, whether to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
But we haven’t thought through ‘WHY NOW?’. If we think that through then we might be able to find some answers.
If (and this is a big IF) the elections were to solve Burma political problems it would have done so with the 1990 elections. It doesn’t and so it’s clear that not just holding the elections or even one party winning it by a landslide is not the solution. We have to look behind the motive of the military regime’s decision to hold referendum and consequently the elections.
In my opinion, they don’t give a toss about ‘legitimacy’ or ‘their right to rule’. They have been doing this, without the mandate of the people and without a ‘constitution’ for almost twenty years. To use a simple analogy here, ‘a woman who already have seven children may wants to ‘legalise’ or ‘formalise’ her wedlock by ‘marrying’ in some religious institution or some civil one but the fact remains, “What good that marriage be it her husbands remains untrustworthy and she got battered day in day out?” It’ll be just form and no substance.
Everybody knows that the military regime is responding to pressure put on them by China because of the Olympic Games. China does not want ‘INSTABILITY’ (not even in her neighbourhood) before the Games. Mia Farrow has already giving them a lot of headaches over Sudan’s Darfur situation.
It’s our only (and maybe the best) opportunity to put on China to change it’s policy vis-a-vis the military regime. Otherwise, whether we take part in the referendum or not; whether we vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as long as they have the military behind them and China to continue supplying them with arms, let alone Rambo, not even GOD or ALLAH or whatever one might hope for, might not be able to help and the country will gain a new status. It is now LDC, (Least Developed Country) and with India and China sucking up all that we have it will become an NDC (NEVER (EVER) to be Developed Country).
February 25th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Referendum might be held as the mass ralllies the junta usually showing off with its thugs (USDAs, civil servants) and most public will be forced to attend. However, whether the regime will take the result responsibily or fake the result is needed to wait and see. If independent body, such as UN can handle the referendum, then we don’t need to think about 2010 election as the junta’s draft constitution will never be passed. Nevertheless, it is very likely that UN will monitor the process of referendum and even Western democracies will do the same. The junta will try their best for winning the referendum and what we can hope for is the ‘Armageddon’ in Burma as everyone needs to out and about to hit SPDC with all the forces we have. All the monks, students and everone must fight for their last breath. All the armed-forces must step up operations at the same time. Burma must be a democratic nation at the end that will be surely before 2010.
February 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
“Urge the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the 1990 general elections, to go on with the struggle by proclaiming as “the People’s Government” in reflection of the aspirations of the Burmese people and also call on the United Nations and international communities not to prioritize the dialogue but to adopt more serious and effective actions on the junta when extending their helping hands to Burma.”
Burma Democracy Forum (Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A.)
Statement of Successful Conclusion
February 24, 2008
The Burma Democracy Forum was held at Walb Student Union on the campus of IPFW from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm today. Present on the occasion were representatives of Burmese pro-democracy forces from Indiana and various states.
At the forum, the SPDC-Burmese military junta’s constitutional referendum and elections to be held in 2010 were unanimously rejected since the processes are being implemented forcibly through the medium of a sham convention in absence of fundamental democratic principles and elected representatives by the Burmese people.
In reviewing over the reports on an additional formation of a parallel government, the forum found it unacceptable to any constitutional process not formulated by the elected representatives of the Burmese people and not ratified by the masses of people. The forum do urge the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the 1990 general elections, to go on with the struggle by proclaiming as “the People’s Government” in reflection of the aspirations of the Burmese people and also call on the United Nations and international communities not to prioritize the dialogue but to adopt more serious and effective actions on the junta when extending their helping hands to Burma.
The forum was brought to a successful close by passing a resolution to convene a much larger one in 2008 in order to accommodate a broad-base gathering as a gesture of attemting unified activisms in harmony with the pro-democracy forces all the world over.
Sponsoring Committee
http://www.mobilizationforces.blogspot.com
February 26th, 2008 at 6:16 am
You’re right Dr Thiha, the NLD should stake its claim that it won the 1990 elections by a landslide and the military regime cannot ignore that fact. If the elections were held for the mandate of the people then how they have voted isn’t that. I’m surprised that the UN with all the money went into countries like Cambodia and others to monitor the elections, whereas in the case of Burma the elections went through and the people have spoken and the elected representatives were denied of their right - not a word from the UN. How hypocritical can that be.
Now, the UN envoy Mr Gambari is unashamedly saying that the military regime’s attempt to hold a referendum for its farcical constitution in May as, “This is a significant step as it marks the first time that we have an established time frame for the implementation of the junta’s political roadmap.”
I do not have faith in such an organisation when its executive members like former Secretary General Kofi Anan can’t achieved much whether he was in or out of his job.
One thing I want to ask is whether the issue of organising for the boycott of the Olympic Games comes up or not. If not, why?
February 27th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I have been campaign for “BOYCOTT REFERENDUM” when jutna announced that they will hold a referendum in May and an election in 2010. I have never suspected that junta will change their mind due to the pressure from international organizations.
I don’t want to count the chicken before it hatch, but I am sure that the referendum will be, by hook or by crook, overwhemly approved by the people. Let me bring back to 1970s referendum, held by Ne Win, where more than 90% said “yes” to it. In reality, the number of “yes” vote might be much lower than it was stated if they did no cheat the results. In that referendum, oppositions were not allowed to campaign for “no” vote. Election committee were hand-picked up by junta. Ballot boots were supervised by the socialist party members or “block leaders” (yatquat koncy). Ballot counting was not transparent.
In our district, there were many “no” or black votes but they were apparently changed to “yes” votes because according to the result, there were more than 95% “yes” vote in our district. We were amazed and furious. Similarly in Akyab, Sittwe, in the villages where indians migrant from Bangladesh were majority and who were anxious about forming “Rakhine State” voted absolutely “no”. Simply the authority changed the black ballot box with “no” votes by pasting a white sheet with tick mark to “yes”.
They will follow the same footstep of their ancestors to get mandate from this referendum whether you say “yes” or “no” In this regard, why do you want to say yes or no to this referendum?
Just stay away from them and show theworld that we do not agree with them. Please boycott referendum.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Hello Burma Digest,
Burmese people should not be caught in the net of military junta’s policy and plan. We should all understand that participating in the referandum will be a great defeat for pro-democracy activist especially the NLD. The NLD should stand firm of boycotting the referandum and roadmap as it is well aware that the roadmap does not envisage real democracy. NLD should demand more talks on this issues with military rulers. There will never be a fair election in Burma unless UN peace keeping forces made its present. So the UN should be invited first befor any referandum or election. Therefore seriously ‘NO’ participation, NO vote to referandum.
SAMUEL T. LUPHO
India
March 31st, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I strongly ask and apeal to the people to vote. If you dont like the military regime government - vote “NO”. if you dont go and vote then the yes votes put in by the cronies will be in the majority and the referandum will be lost on a simple majority. Let me tell you that there is a good chance that the “No” vote will win. Capitalize on this opportunity and defeat the junta. The people are fed up of this rogue regime and this is your chance to vote them out. otherwise - you will be the loser !!!. Dont for get campaign strongly and go and vote “NO”.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Vote NO or NO vote?
Vote NO is mean voters agree to take part with the Junta’s sponsor malicious referendum in hope of defeat them by casting NO ballot.
NO vote mean boycott the referendum totally.No voters go to cast the ballot at the time being or NO confidence in SPDC junta.