Voting is Sacred: The Fight for Democracy in Myanmar

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The Election and a Coup

In the Nov. 8, 2020 parliamentary election in Myanmar, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 396 out of 476 seats. The Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP)—a proxy for the Burmese military—lost to the NLD by claiming only 33 seats. 

The USDP contested the results, appealing to the Union Election Commission. The commission dismissed the allegation of voter fraud due to a lack of evidence. 

Independent observers also denied allegations of voter fraud. According to the Carter Center, which sent 43 observers to 234 polling stations in 10 states, “election day itself occurred without major irregularities.” 

Despite the lack of evidence of voting irregularities, Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the NLD were detained by the military. The military junta (a group that assumes control over a country illegally by force as opposed to a stratocracy, which is a legal military government) stated it would replace the election commission. On Feb. 1, 2021, the military deposed the government in a coup, shutting down all flights and disabling the Internet.

Human Rights Abuses

The Rohingya Muslims, an ethnic minority in Myanmar, are at particular risk by the military’s sudden rise to power. Huddled in refugee camps along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, the Rohingya are even more vulnerable and fearful about returning to their homeland. Four years ago, in Aug. 2017, the military burned their villages and killed thousands of Rohingya people, forcing them to flee. 

The military has categorically denied allegations of ethnic cleansing, but the evidence suggests otherwise. In Dec. 2019, Aung San Suu Kyi conceded in a speech delivered to the United Nations International Court of Justice, that “disproportionate use of force was used by members of the Defense Services in disregard of international humanitarian law.” 

Burmese citizens have been taking to the streets to protest the junta, valiantly facing water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition. Protesters clad in black also stand in solidarity with the Rohingya, since they have been disenfranchised from discriminatory citizenship laws. Many ethnic minorities could not vote in this election, since the NLD canceled elections in over 50 townships. 

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), over 1,009 protesters have died senselessly as of Aug. 21, 2021. These demonstrations are reminiscent of the 1988 People Power Uprising, in which Burmese citizens fought and died for democracy. The people are still fighting the same battle.

Democratic Backsliding

When military general, Min Aung Hlaing, declared himself the prime minister, he baselessly called the NLD and people who voted for it, “terrorists and extremists.” Hlaing’s action and his distorted idea of democracy resembles that of former President Trump. Claiming the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election was “stolen” from him, Trump riled voters leading to an attempted putsch at the Capitol. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Like the toppling of a single domino, one country falling to the whims of autocracy could initiate a worldwide trend of democratic backsliding. 

The Burmese military has received international condemnation for its attempt to thwart democracy. President Joe Biden and other international leaders have imposed sanctions on the Burmese government, hoping to undermine the illegitimate regime.

India, China, and ASEAN 

While Western nations have been quick to criticize the military junta, neighboring countries such as India and China have been much more cautious. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), despite having much geopolitical influence, have been even more ineffectual.

ASEAN, which consists of ten countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), seeks to promote economic growth and regional peace. ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus, which was finalized on April 24, 2021 as a solution to the Myanmar coup, ironically, lacks consensus among the countries. The Consensus called for an end to violence as well as an ASEAN-appointed Special Envoy to mediate the conflict in Myanmar. However, the combination of ill-defined goals, conflicting interests amongst member states, and ASEAN’s rule for non-interference in members’ internal affairs has prevented decisive action and military-backed violence against civilians ensues.

ASEAN is in desperate need of reform, which could perhaps take the form of additional accountability and enforcement measures to ensure the success of its resolutions. They have a responsibility to protect Myanmar’s civilians, especially marginalized ethnic minorities like the Rohingya. 

International Support 

According to the International Peace Institute, international development and humanitarian organizations have taken only minimal actions to address the human rights crisis in Myanmar. The World Health Organization removed Myanmar from the World Health Assembly so that they can avoid the issue entirely. They are not using the power they wield to condemn the coup and advocate for the rights of civilians and marginalized ethnic communities. 

The UN General Assembly scheduled on Sept. 14, 2021 will decide which government to recognize in Myanmar. In the meantime, civilians die at the hands of the military every day. Now is not the time to be apathetic. The human rights issues in Myanmar—displacement, poverty, and ethno-religious conflict—have been exacerbated by the pandemic, increasing the need for foreign aid more than ever.

Some possible actions are imposing sanctions on Myanmar, such as trade embargos. 

If the Burmese government restores democracy, then countries such as the U.S. can ease or remove its sanctions on Myanmar. This would open the door for international investment, desperately needed by the embattled country. China has huge economic interests vested in Myanmar which is why the country is considered a satellite state for China. Democratic reforms could benefit Myanmar by allowing it to establish harmonious relationships with other countries, thereby lessening its reliance on China. 

Burmese citizens have fought for political freedom for hundreds of years, sacrificing their lives for democracy. Their persistence is a testament to their enduring strength. A shred of hope unites the Burmese in their fight for democracy, as they recognize that their inalienable right to vote is sacred.