Electoral Dilemmas
Date
2008-07
Authors
South, Ashley
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Independent Mon News Agency
Abstract
With the referendum process now completed, the Burmese military government
is preparing for elections in 2010. The obviously manipulated nature of
the referendum in May (according to which, over 92% of the population
endorsed the military-drafted constitution) has led many observers and
political actors to doubt whether the forthcoming elections are worth
competing in. A number of opposition groups have condemned the whole
process as a sham. Unfortunately however, they have not proposed any
realistic alternatives to bring about sustainable and inclusive political
change in Burma.
¶
Many activists hope for some kind of external intervention. Although the
US and some other governments may be prepared to keep up the sanctions
regime, the international community's response to Cyclone Nargis (the
failure to follow through on threats to mobilise the 'Responsibility to
Protect' doctrine) indicate that Western powers are unlikely to offer more
than limited and largely rhetorical support to the democracy movement in
Burma.
¶
Therefore, if change is going to come to the country, it will have to be
driven by internal political dynamics.
Description
Keywords
Burma, Politics
Citation
Independent Mon News Agency, August 4
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Type
Newspaper/magazine article
Book Title
Research School of Humanities
Entity type
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