Junta Paper On 1990 Election Results-07-23

8 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 23 July, 2009

Wipe out anti-public desire elements (1) Lu Thit It is common knowledge that the entire people are in favour of democracy, so that it is more democratic in line with the law, in place of the oneparty system. Besides, they are in support of the market-oriented economic system, by which they can work widely to ensure greater development of the nation as well as better socio-economic life of each individual and family. Therefore, the government is working hard practicing the market economy to improve the socio-economic life of the people in compliance with public desire. As a result, the nation has enjoyed development to a certain degree, which is tangible to everyone. Simultaneously, the government is trying its utmost to complete the seven-step Road Map, grappling with a large variety of hindrances, disruptions and challenges against democratic transition. So far, it has realized several democratization proceedings such as convening the National Convention, formulating and drafting the State constitution, and approving the draft constitution through the referendum. The government held the referendum in accordance with the international level referendum law and bye-laws. Likewise, it formed commissions at all levels ranging from the central level to the grassroots level to supervise the proceedings for ensuring a free and fair one. Moreover, it published books on State constitution, election law and byelaws in time for public knowledge. On the days in which the referendum was in progress, foreign diplomats and representatives from UN agencies were sent to various regions for their first-hand knowledge of the proceedings in which local people were casting their votes of their own accord. The government made arrangements both for pro- and for anti-constitution people to cast votes freely. So, apparently, the referendum to approve the constitution was held fairly. In the referendum, 92.48 per cent of the voters favoured the State constitution, so the constitution has had the mandate to go on. That means the people are in favour of the constitution and they place trust and reliance on the government. In the 1974 referendum, the constitution won only 90.17 percent of votes although the party cells of the Myanmar Socialist Programme Party had been set up firmly and the people were organized at national level. The percentage at that time should have been higher than this time. Despite internal and external elements organizing and putting pressure on the people, the percentage of the votes in favour was 92.48, higher than that in 1974. So, it is crystal clear that the people are really in favour of and they accept the constitution.

To implement the seven-step Road Map, while carrying out tasks for national development without sacrificing State stability and community peace is the correct political trend as well as the most appropriate and the safest way to achieve the goal of democracy. The people’s massive support for the constitution is largely due to the fact that the people are in recognition of the government’s efforts to do national politics and it is capable of fulfilling their three major wishes. The people are in favour of stability and peace, and are opposed to subversive acts that can provoke instability, unrest and violence. They aspire to national development and betterment of their socioeconomic life. They do not accept any forms of cases that can hinder development. Every citizen wants to enjoy fully the freedom of acts and businesses in line with the law, and to achieve their goal of democracy. The foregoing points represent the genuine wishes of the majority of today’s people. The people are in support of the government with all seriousness that the ruling government is capable enough of maintaining State stability and community peace, undertaking tasks for development of the nation and the people, and playing a leadership role in the democratization process, as aspired by the public. Thus, the people fully took part in the constitution-approving process or the fourth step of the State’s seven-step Road Map. These are all public wishes, so all have to honour the public desire. Nevertheless, NLD is turning a blind eye to the people’s desire and trying to disrupt the proceedings. The United Nations secretary-general’s visit to Myanmar was followed by a large range of criticisms from foreign media. In a BBC news programme on 14 July 2009, the spokesperson of the party said that they would hold on the policy that whether they would stand for 2010 election or not, taking into consideration the release of political prisoners including Daw Suu Kyi, a meeting to review the 2008 constitution, and the government’s reaction to those two points; adding that it was impossible for them to stand for election without any action on 1990 election results. It has been about one year internal and external anti-government groups have refused to respect the people’s desire, variously criticizing the alreadyapproved constitution. They remain intransigent, but

1990 election results, to which anti-government groups stick, have been null and void. The people do not turn to the results of more than 19 years ago. Similarly, the anti-government groups’ persistent demand for a dialogue has gone down the drain.

23-7-09 NL

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8/3/18, 8:59 AM

I am sure they have accepted straight from their heart that the result represents the public desire. It is because some anti-government groups once implicitly conceded the result. In reality, they realize the people’s desire, but keep on betraying the national cause owing to their party attachment, sectarianism and personality cult. To implement the seven-step Road Map, while carrying out tasks for national development without sacrificing State stability and community peace is the correct political trend as well as the most appropriate and the safest way to achieve the goal of democracy. That is the reason why the people showed their massive support for the constitution in the referendum in order that the nation can keep on marching at regular speed. The arrangements for 2010 multiparty democracy general election now have made a good headway. Many parties are found making preparations in the framework of the law. It can be deduced from those points that the entire people are in support of the programmes ongoing in line with the constitution for democratization they aspire to. The ruling government has asserted that it will see to the seven-step Road Map in compliance with the mandate. The people will never accept the anti-government groups’ attempts to disrupt the ongoing programmes and will not remain indifferent if the groups keep on trying to make amendments to and revoke the constitution. They should have realized that fact. The people have approved the constitution and given mandate to the government to build the new nation in consistence with the seven-step Road Map. That means the 1990 election results, to which anti-government groups stick, have been null and void. The people do not turn to the results of more than 19 years ago. Similarly, the anti-government groups’ persistent demand for a dialogue has gone down the drain. The people’s memories are still fresh that they gave various reasons to refuse to attend the National Convention even though they were given opportunities to submit their opinions and hold discussions at the convention. The demand the NLD spokesperson made for release of political prisoners including Daw Suu Kyi is unreasonable at all. The government has said many times that there are no political prisoners in Myanmar. They are, indeed, the ones who are serving their terms in accordance with the law for their harming stability and peace of the State, and committing other crimes. Daw Suu Kyi, like them, is not a political prisoner, but the person who is on trial for breaching an existing law. (To be continued) Translation: MS