The Burmese junta has finally fixed November 7 for their much anticipated election. No other poll in a developing country could receive such global attention and scrutiny. The junta’s sole objective seems to have been trying to use this outcome for its own survival and perpetuating its oppression. The regime has already succeeded in scheduling the election date – indeed many feared it would be postponed or may not happen again. Now that the election is going to take place, the world has to decide if it is free, fair and inclusive. Indeed, the junta does not seem to care if opinions elsewhere in the world are divided.The Burmese generals know full well the gullibility of the international community, especially Western nations, when it comes to Burma and its plight since 1988. So, they play along with the Western hypocrisy. On the surface, all of them regularly condemn the upcoming poll as a sham because it is not going to be free, fair or inclusive. Deep down, some of them continue to work with the regime for business and other interests. They have a new mantra to assist the regime by branding their assistance as humanitarian.

Obviously, this time the regime has worked out a system whereby only its own parties will win many votes. Lessons have been learnt from the previous election two decades ago. At the moment, the junta has put in place all mechanisms that will deliver an electoral triumph to its cronies. And the opposition has been annihilated. Just look at the fate of the now-defunct National League of Democracy, the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, who still languishes under house arrest. The NLD used to be the most credible political force in the country, having won the 1990 election in a landslide. Lots of complaints of electoral discriminations are being heard. As the election date draws near, there will be more.

The saddest part is that in the end, whatever the poll’s outcome, the world, and especially Asean, are likely to accept it after a period of criticism. In case of Asean, it has no other option. After all, since its admission 13 years ago, Burma is part of the Asean family. No wonder, the grouping has protected Burma, even though it has constantly tarnished the group’s overall reputation. Ironically, Asean may be the first to congratulate the regime for carrying out the poll, because its member states are fading on this issue. The group no longer wants to the Burmese mess on its annual agenda.

Since the international community has paid so much attention to the election as an important ingredient in democratic development, the Burmese regime will deliver just that. Never mind, if the poll is highly orchestrated or rigged. Who really cares? Recent elections in Sudan and Afghanistan have already provided us with very good examples concerning how the West reacts as these polls served the overall purpose. The convention wisdom still is and will remain the same: a bad election is better than no election. That remains the biggest flaw in the mind-set of the international community.

Of course, the Burmese voters could make a difference. Nobody should underestimate their judgement. Unfortunately, they are not free to speak out and pick their choices. In other Asian countries, voters are free to exercise their rights! In Burma, they are under the regime’s stringent control. Everybody knows if the election is free and held in a fair environment, there is no way the junta would win.