_ by Tai Samyone 

Viewing copies of William Hogarth’s engraved prints entitled ‘An Election Entertainment - Four Prints of an Election’, I was reminded that the use of corruption, coercion and skulduggery are at the heart of elections for many emerging democracies.  The Kingdom of Great Britain in 1758 still had a long way to go to achieve a semblance of fairness and honesty in elections - some say they still have a long way to go!  Recent events in Kenya and Zimbabwe show us that many other countries are still struggling to achieve anything like a fair electron process; but one thing is clear from all those mentioned; that there is a process by which different views can be opined, opponents can stand for election and make their views heard, even if they abuse the election process; and what is more, they operate from a constitution that offers some hope for legality and improvement in the future.  It is perhaps not surprising that the SPDC regime use the same criminal actions of the dictator to retain power.

Democracy evolved from the city state of Athens over 2,500 years ago.  Athens was not what we would call a free state; theirs was a state where free citizens maintained slaves, usually captured during wars with other cities; but which rebelled against the harsh laws and disastrous policies of a string of what we today would call dictators.  Democracy came about as the process of government in which every free citizen could vote for those on the governing senate and at every important policy decision.

As we stand here in the 21^st century, we are keenly aware that the world has learned a great deal about what democracy means and how to run elections that give the people of a country the opportunity of voting as they choose, for whom they choose or for what side of an option they choose.  Such is not the case in Burma.  The published constitution has been written by the junta to ensure that if it ever gets enacted, they will retain power, that no future government will be allowed to prosecute them for their manifest crimes, and that if the military don’t like the civilian government they have a legal right to take back direct control (rather than the illegal control they currently hold).

The referendum is being held without any pretence of fairness or honesty.  The SPDC will bulldoze any opposition, force a yes vote and publish their success to the world community as if it were the truth.  The regime’s friendly states in China, ASEAN, and India will point to the referendum and say it was a fair process in such a difficult environment and then pump up the trade deals.  The west will denounce the iniquities and injustice, and call for an enquiry.  The SPDC hope to weather another storm and may even let Gambari back in, so that they can gloat in his face.

People Power will eventually topple the incompetent regime; it may take another 10 years, but is 10 years’ suffering worth the effort for salvaging the future for our future generations?  No more slavery to the SPDC dictators for Burma.  The only way to create the environment for getting what we want is to oppose the illegal regime at every step; that is the way of the revolutionary; no compromise with the enemy; throw them out of power and into jail; vote NO!; that is the way to win.