Elections like 1990 ?

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_ By Cedric Snodgrass

The elections held in 1990 were relatively free and fair (although just before the elections, “SLORC relocates one million ‘squatters’ to improve its electoral prospects” ).

At that time not only were the people of Burma suffering from pillaging and mismanagement by the military-dominated regimes, but the regime then in power was—unlike today—desperately short of money.

Elections which legitimize the regime would increase international confidence, encourage much-needed foreign investment, restore suspended foreign aid and help people to forget the 1988 butchery.Their plans miscarried because of overconfidence in success.

Will the ruling generals, whose primary purpose is to perpetuate their own rule, make the same mistake twice ?

No. They have recently shown quite clearly—at their so-called National Convention—the manner in which they will conduct the referendum and subsequent elections.
Nothing is to be left to chance, or to the will of the people.

By whatever means the elections are rigged, the people will have only one choice : to vote or not to vote.
In this way the voter will show either approval or disapproval of the regime’s continuing hold on power.

People may not even have this choice, as the regime will likely force them to go to vote, through the many pressures they can apply.
The regime will do this in the same way they recently forced many to attend mass rallies against human rights.
Why should things now be suddenly any different ?

The people of Burma have been reduced to a condition little better than slavery.

Perhaps the men in power will change their titles.
Senior-General will become Mr President.
The intention is to persuade the world there has been a substantial change, when in fact there has been none.

The SPDC will try to hide details of how the referendum and elections will be conducted for as long as possible.

The reasons are :–

• What we do not know about we cannot criticize.
• To raise false hopes among Burmese. This could in turn relax international pressures on the regime and its sugar-daddy, the People’s Republic of China.
• To blur the view of the situation to people in other countries who are mostly unaware of the continuing daily round of repression in Burma.
• Last, but by no means least, to divide the Burmese democracy movement, both in exile and at home. This has always been their tactic, and it has often been successful.

It is here suggested that there is only one appropriate response to the regime’s plans:

“No ! No ! No !

“We do not accept what you are doing. It is just tightly directed play-acting. A puppet show.

“We shall only accept your referendum and elections after you have proved to us they will be free and fair.
Your present actions prove to us they will be un-free and unfair.

“We do not listen to what you say.
But we look closely at what you do.

“You can prove to us the referendum and elections will be free and fair:
if you allow them to be closely monitored by trained, independent observers from the United Nations.

“We know you well enough to know you will not do this.

“You are—much worse can be said of you—a bunch of fraudsters and congenital liars.”