Myanmar elections

the elections in Myanmar are finished and thankfully without bloodshed or violence.  in another landslide victory the NLD [National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi] won 77% of the seats in parliament vs 10% for the military regime.  unlike the last election the military regime says it will hand over political power to those elected.  this in itself is progress, most probably made so that the military elite [who reserve for themselves 25% of the seats which means they still hold control over any constitutional changes] can continue to open it's doors to the west and exploit this resource rich country for their own gain.

still, this was a powerful moment for the people of Myanmar and one filled with emotion as a people who had never been able to vote in a 'free and fair' election lined the streets and waited for hours to cast votes.  voter turnout was over 70% and there was very few reports of fraud.  still this victory is just the first step in what will take generations to start providing basic infrastructure for the people.

now, the world will watch as Aung San Suu Kyi chooses a president and builds a government that is representative of the people.  i was asked recently about the Rohinga situation  and criticism of Aung San Suu Kyi for not speaking out about it.  it made me think about the challenge she faces now as at the age of 70 she starts to build a democratic government.

sure, the military is ceding political power but what is she inheriting?  she gets a country with no infrastructure - no roads [except in Naw Pyi Taw shown below], no clean water, no sewage system, no education system and no healthcare.  the challenges are overwhelming and i hope the people will be patient as progress will be slow.

when the military elite abandoned the city of Yangon they built a new capital where the roads are six lane highways made of concrete and empty of traffic while in Yangon it can take 30 minutes to travel 1 mile [2KM].

 

roads of Yangon

roads of Naw Pyi Taw

gangster capitalism

i get asked from time to time about the government in Myanmar.  is there progress being made?  will there be free and fair elections?  

Aung San Suu Kyi has long been a SHERO of mine and part of the reason i had such a fascination about Burma.  i'd read her books and followed her house arrest and the crazy stories like the uninvited american who swam across the lake to her house.  her house is clearly marked on University Avenue with signs for the NLD and the taxi drivers often point it out to me with pride.

she has and will continue to make a difference regardless of how the military regime tries to shut her down and is probably the one person in the country that can bring together all the factions outside the military to unite under one flag.  at the moment it remains a monumental task.  will the november elections be 'free and fair'? 

it doesn't matter.

in the end, the network of cronies are not going to give up power and money.  it will transition more like Russia has with the military elite controlling the economic development and riding the tide of money that will flood the country after the elections.  hopefully that tide will raise up everyone just enough that they can begin to transition into a better place.