Suu Kyi's Election Year Role Still in Doubt
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Suu Kyi's Election Year Role Still in Doubt


By AUNG NAING OO Tuesday, February 23, 2010


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The constitution's Article 369, Chapter 8, stipulates “Subject to this Constitution and relevant laws, every citizen has the right to elect and right to be elected to the Pyithu Hluttaw, the Amyotha Hluttaw, and the Region or State Hluttaw.”

Yet this ominous and conflicting condition—“Subject to this Constitution and relevant laws”—actually encompasses a wide range of provisions that would criminalize the democracy icon, and also prevent many dissidents from contesting the elections.

Specifically, Article 121 of the constitution, under the section “Disqualification for the Pyithu Hluttaw Representatives,” has five sub-sections, of which sub-sections a, b and e would apply to many dissidents, including Suu Kyi.

Sub-section (a) disqualifies “a person serving prison term, having been convicted by the Court concerned for having committed the offence.” As predicted earlier, Suu Kyi will still be under detention at the time of an election, rendering her ineligible to stand, even if she tries to register her candidacy.

Sub-section (b) deals with members of parliament who were disqualified from the (previous) Hluttaw and sub-section (e) is about elected candidates who owe allegiance to a foreign government, are subject to or a citizen of a foreign government.

Unlike in 1990,  Suu Kyi is no longer married to a foreigner so her candidacy cannot be rejected on this basis. But these three sweeping categorizations disqualify her and all political prisoners, most notably the leaders of the 88 Student Generation group such as Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi as well as candidates elected in 1990 but who who have been disqualified for one reason or another over the past 20 years.

In the final analysis, however, politics is the art of possible. And in Burma, everything finally depends on Snr-Gen Than Shwe. If he can cut a deal with Suu Kyi regarding her role under the new polity or if he no longer sees her as a threat, she could be released.

Last November, Min Lwin, a high-ranking official in Burma’s Foreign Ministry, told the news agency AP in Manila: "There is a plan to release her soon ... so she can organize her party.”  

Even if this daring pronouncement comes true, Suu Kyi's candidacy in the 2010 election would be very doubtful—but I  hope I am wrong.



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COMMENTS (12)
 
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Myanmar Patriot 4 UMPF Wrote:
02/03/2010
1.We are royalists. As a teenager,we know,our claimant in exile to the throne of Burma, Shwebomin II, who has not been home for 48 years, would pump bullets into ShuMaung's head.

2.SLORC did save Burma; it may sound strange or stupid but true; our would be king understands very well. Tragedy was Butcher of Rangoon, Sein Lwin, was still in charge of MI.

3.Sen.Gen SawMaung was a pure career soldier, without political kudos; but he did his job of stabilizing the 'state'; SPDC evolved to correct ShuMaung's wrong doings.

4.Because of ShuMaung,Suu Kyi was made famous without her doing anything for Burmese people; she is a pure opportunist through and through.Shu Maung's Burmese Way to Socialism was the most stupid thing.

5.Under ShuMaung, Burma had worst of both worlds: bankruptcy coupled with inability to get rid of rebellion in the name of self-determination that actually attempts to balkanise Burma.

6.The SPDC has vision although they may not get everything right.They adhered to Shwebomin's commands.

7.Saw Maung retired peacefully.

K Wrote:
02/03/2010
Myanmar Patriot 4 UMPF: Judging from your previous posts, you seemed to be not very fond of U Shumaung and his BSPP regime. I generally believe BSPP and SLORC/SPDC are from a same group of people. Apparently they are not. Could you explain
(1) why the SPDC dislikes U Shumaung and
(2) what happened to the late SLORC's chief Saw Maung (and his eventual dismissal)?

Erik Wrote:
01/03/2010
Some things are simple. If we want to see democracy in our lifetime in Burma, the opposition should realise it should allow the SPDC a safe exit (read: their constitution and election).
There is no alternative, since the opposition is powerless against an army of 500,000 men.

All resistance against the safe exit of the generals is nothing more than prolonging the suffering of 50 million people in Burma. Will the opposition please take responsibility for the result of their choice if they don't compete?

The price of principles is way too high in this instance.

Myanmar Patriot 4 UMPF Wrote:
01/03/2010
All our sufferings are caused by English colonialism.

Kyaaw Wrote:
28/02/2010
What is remnant colonialism and neo-colonialism?
The Burmese kings were too rude which made it impossible for the British to receive them.
The British granted more land to Burma by including the frontier areas which were independent territories before the British occupation. The British introduced a formal governance system and tamed the civil administration system. Today everybody knows that those Western countries are firmly supporting the democracy struggle of the peoples of Burma (Not the Chinese, Thai and Indians.

Kerry Wrote:
26/02/2010
Hmmm. Choice!

Democratically elected, highly acclaimed and honored and respected Nobel Peace Laureate who loves her people enough to make the most extraordinary sacrifices...

Or an insane General who wants the people of Burma dead.

So many children, so much trauma, so much suffering.

The people of the world are with you all, as they awaken: the women of the world pray for our Burmese sisters.

A war cannot be waged with praters and candles, but the tide is turning for Burma.

The UN, ASEAN neighbours and all right thinking people must take a stand for Burma this year.

Perhaps in China women might like to comment on what is happening also.

Myanmar Patriot 4 UMPF Wrote:
25/02/2010
What is so fundamentally important is why has SuuKyi been barred from seeking public office from day 1?

WE KNOW THE ANSWER AND THE LOGIC OF IT.
Sadly, our people did not - some still do not - realise the long shadow of colonialism, in the form of remnant colonialism and neo-colonialism existing concurrently in some small but powerful quarters of the English establishment.

Why was SuuKyi, who did not lift a finger when Burmese people were suffering immeasurably under the BSPP regime of the late U ShuMaung, promoted to the stratosphere of fame whilst Aung San Oo, a Myanmar patriot and true HEIR of AungSan's fame, despite his efforts to help liberate Burma from repression when he was still a student in London, was at first completely ignored and later marginalised and maligned?

The SPDC or the junta is in NO position to right this wrong as the communication bewteen them and the people had broken down. Only we, United Myanmar Patritoic Front, can bring about the truth.IT MUST PREVAIL.

Myanmar Patriot 4 UMPF Wrote:
25/02/2010
The traitor Suu Kyi has no role whatsoever in the affairs of the state of Burma.
FULL STOP! (Period in American english)


timothy Wrote:
25/02/2010
My advice is NLD to go into election with electioneering preparation and actual mass meetings to garner support of public. Public will flock to these meetings called by NLD leadership engineered by Daw Suu. The show of people power just for electioneering will show the world and of course, Than Shwe himself of the power of people. Public will say yes vote for NLD and NO VOTE to CRONIES OF DICTATORS. Surround the voting station is duty of public and it will guard to some extense against vote rigging. The local vote should be declared outside the poll stations before sending the sealed boxes to the central ( Vote Rigging) electoral office. Asean should sent the watchdog formed by ex statesmen to lessen the chance of vote rigging. This is the time to expose the bad manner of Than Shwe. Go for it.

EKA Wrote:
24/02/2010
Neither the UN nor key players as the USA or the EU or ASEAN, has strongly viewed - on a constant basis - there opinion against the foundation of the 2010 election - namely the 2008 constitution.
As sad as it is - it remains half a victory for the SPDC.

George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote:
23/02/2010
Daw Suu has been preempted from seeking public office since day one; under house arrest in 1990 and now 2008 constitution. Her 18 month house arrest extension also served to certify the fact.

Even her NLD is under the specter of being outlawed as a political entity in case it failed to field candidates and contest in Than Shwe's farce.

In case NLD makes waves - organizing and rallying people - Than Shwe will certainly crack down on the popular party; U Win Tin and U Tin Oo also will land in jail and NLD banned from the political picture as well.

Of course NLD will not play dumb and participate in his rigged election if Than Shwe ignores the Shwegondaing Declaration; this will serve to outlaw NLD as well no less.

Hence Daw Suu and her NLD are targeted for annihilation for good and proper this time.
International condemnation nor ridicule is no longer a concern or a big deal for the monk/mass murderer Than Shwe as long as China, India and ASEAN give due recognition and nod believe me.

Kyaik-ka-san Wrote:
23/02/2010
The Junta will not release DASSK in 2010. SPDC aimed at to fight a sure success war against NLD. However, their past record and poor math always gave them wrong results. This time is also no exception.

If the SPDC were clever, it would have won the war in 2003 already. The state-terrorism in Depayin made him loose the war. Even after the Depayin killing, NLD decided to cooperate with them.

2007 killing of revered Monks was totally rejected by entire world. The result was “smart sanctions” that have helped bring a collapse of the national economy today.

Compromising the “Nargis Constitution” with 130,000 fellow citizens’ lives seems a success story. The NLD has the right to reject it legally.

Yettaw was meant to “marginalize” DASSK. On the contrary, she remains a key player of political show. History will explain his 2 visits to Burma.

Many reasons show, either strategically, maneuverability or situational entity, 2010 will be year of DASSK. The SPDC is downsizing and will crumple.

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