Much ado about Aung San Suu Kyi

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Much ado about Aung San Suu Kyi Nov 9, 2015 19:52:29 GMT

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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2015 19:52:29 GMT

Vote counting is underway in Myanmar where turnout was more than 80 percent for the nation's first free general election in a quarter of a century. Some 32 million people were registered to vote to select from more than 6,000 candidates for both houses of the national parliament and regional assemblies.

The country's most famous voter and candidate, National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was surrounded Sunday by hundreds of supporters and journalists at the polling station near her home in Bahan township in Yangon. She did not speak or acknowledge the crowd as her bodyguards made a path for her to the ballot box where pandemonium erupted as photographers and television cameramen jostled to capture the scene.

The Nobel Laureate was expected to address her supporters outside NLD headquarters after the polls closed, but she did not appear. The NLD released a statement after the voting ended calling on its supporters to await the results in their own homes and accept the outcome calmly. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated the people of Myanmar, also known as Burma, calling the election "a testament to the courage and sacrifice shown by the people of Burma over many decades."

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Much ado about Aung San Suu Kyi Nov 11, 2015 20:01:44 GMT

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Post by Admin on Nov 11, 2015 20:01:44 GMT

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has requested meetings with Myanmar’s military chief, the president and the chairman of parliament next week, apparently to discuss the formation of the new government following her party’s massive electoral victory.

In similar letters to the three officials sent Wednesday, Suu Kyi said it is “very crucial that the government implements, for the pride of the country and the peaceful desire of people,” the results of the Nov. 8 elections. She says “based on the national reconciliation, we would want to meet” and have discussions next week.

Although Suu Kyi and the NLD have won an overwhelming victory, it is not going to be easy to translate this victory into political gains. Since one-fourth of the seats in both houses of Parliament (the Assembly of the Union, or Hluttaw) are allocated to the military, the NLD will have to win two-thirds of the seats in Sunday’s vote to assure itself of a Parliamentary majority. Previous elections show this is not wholly impossible.

In 1990, the NLD had won 79 per cent of the seats, and in 2012, it got 95 per cent of the seats, on offer; although the latter election was more limited and took place in NLD strongholds. The votes are still being counted and the final result will be in on November 22. However, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has conceded defeat. So, despite the fact that Suu Kyi cannot assume the top position (she is barred by the Constitution), it is clear that she will be in a position to direct Myanmar, even without holding the top position.

Amendments to the clauses in the Constitution preventing Suu Kyi from becoming President and requiring 75 per cent of votes in Parliament to allow amendments were blocked by the military (which reserves 25 per cent of the seats for its own appointments) in July 2015. Even with two-thirds of the seats, it won’t be easy for Suu Kyi to lead Myanmar into the transition from a military republic to a full democracy.

Last Edit: Feb 1, 2021 4:55:48 GMT by Admin

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Much ado about Aung San Suu Kyi Nov 21, 2015 20:04:40 GMT

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Post by Admin on Nov 21, 2015 20:04:40 GMT

Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar’s influential parliamentary speaker have met for key talks to outline how the country will move from decades of military rule towards democracy after landmark polls this month. Uncertainty surrounds the handover of power in the south-east Asian nation after Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition National League for Democracy swept to victory in the 8 November polls, the country’s first free election in 25 years.

She held a closed-door meeting in the capital Naypyidaw on Wednesday with Shwe Mann, a former general with whom she has an amicable working relationship. The pair agreed to a number of shared goals that were later released in a statement by the NLD, including national reconciliation, peace and the smooth running of parliament during the country’s political transition.

“We are working on important matters for the country,” NLD spokesman Win Htein said. Aung San Suu Kyi has requested three “national reconciliation” discussions, including with the president and army chief.

Last Edit: Feb 1, 2021 4:56:23 GMT by Admin

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Much ado about Aung San Suu Kyi Feb 1, 2021 4:55:13 GMT

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Post by Admin on Feb 1, 2021 4:55:13 GMT

Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other ruling party officials were detained Monday in a move that raised concerns of a possible coup.

The early-morning detentions came on the same day the new parliament was supposed to be inaugurated.

Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were taken early Monday, said the spokesman for the ruling party, the National League for Democracy.

"I want to tell our people not to respond rashly and I want them to act according to the law," spokesman Myo Nyunt said Monday, adding that he expected to be detained as well.

“As far as we know, all the important people have been arrested by the Burmese military,” he said. “So, now we can say it is coup d'état. In Naypyidaw, Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint has been arrested, I heard. But we are not sure about members of Parliament in municipality compound, but we can assume that they have been arrested, too.”

In a statement, the White House said, “The United States is alarmed by reports that the Burmese military has taken steps to undermine the country’s democratic transition,” adding that the U.S. urges “the military and all other parties to adhere to democratic norms and the rule of law, and to release those detained today.”

“The United States opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar’s democratic transition and will take action against those responsible if these steps are not reversed,” the statement said.

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Much ado about Aung San Suu Kyi Feb 1, 2021 20:32:11 GMT

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Post by Admin on Feb 1, 2021 20:32:11 GMT

Myanmar's powerful military has taken control of the country in a coup and declared a state of emergency, following the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior government leaders in early morning raids Monday.

How did the coup unfold?
In the early hours of Monday, the army's TV station said power had been handed over to commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Ms Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) were arrested in a series of raids. It is not clear where they are being held.

No major violence has been reported. Soldiers blocked roads in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, and the main city, Yangon. International and domestic TV channels, including the state broadcaster, went off air. Internet and phone services were disrupted. Banks said they had been forced to close.

Later, the military announced that 24 ministers and deputies had been removed, and 11 replacements had been named, including in finance, health, the interior and foreign affairs.

A curfew is now reportedly in effect from 20:00 local time to 06:00 (13:30-23:30 GMT).

The military takeover follows weeks of tensions between the armed forces and the government following parliamentary elections lost by the army-backed opposition.

The opposition had demanded a re-run of the election, raising allegations of widespread fraud that were not backed by the electoral commission.

So why has the army acted now?

So it is official. The armed forces in Myanmar have confirmed that they have carried out a coup d'etat, their first against a civilian government since 1962, and in apparent violation of the constitution which the military promised to honour as recently as last Saturday.

The grievances which have been driving tension between the military and the government are well enough known. The military-backed party, the USDP, performed poorly in last November's general election, whereas the NLD did even better than in 2015.

The timing of this coup is also easily explained. This week the first session of parliament since the election was due to start, which would have enshrined the election result by approving the next government. That will no longer happen.

But the military's longer game plan is hard to fathom. What do they plan to do in the year they have given themselves to run the country? There will be public anger over a coup so soon after an election in which 70% of voters defied the Covid-19 pandemic to vote so overwhelmingly for Aung San Suu Kyi.

Famously stubborn, she is unlikely to co-operate with a gun held to her head. Her ally, President Win Myint, is the only person authorised under the constitution to enact a state of emergency. He has been detained with her.

For the moment the military's action appears reckless, and puts Myanmar on a perilous path.