Simonia Aida

New look of military rule in Myanmar

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2011, №16, 127-146

 
Annotation: A.A. Simoniya in her paper «New look of military rule in Myanmar» analyzes the 2010 parliamentary elections and the initiatives of president Thein Sein. The results of elections in Myanmar were not a surprise. The military and the military-backed pro-government Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP) together control about 84% of the seats in the parliament. The president − former general and the last prime minister − during 14 years has been a member of the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Many of the generals who made up the SPDC now also hold key positions in the parliament and the cabinet. Currently Myanmar's new civilian government is making big efforts to show its legitimacy as a democratic regime. The most significant initiative was the president Thein Sein's official meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyitaw. Among other steps the author mentioned the following: the UN special rapporteur was allowed back into Myanmar; political exiles were told they could return home; an offer of ceasefire to armed ethnic political groups. Thein Sein has announced that construction of the Myitsone dam across the Irrawaddy river would cease. Myanmar's leaders seem prepared to pay more heed both to popular opinion at home and to pressure from the West. The changes may be limited, but nevertheless there is a ground for cautious optimism.

Keywords: MYANMAR, SENIOR GENERAL THAN SHWE, PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, UNION SOLIDARITY AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY (USDP), CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT, PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN, PRESIDENT’S INITIATIVES, AUNG SAN SUU KYI