Today, Myanmar has passed through many periods and seen many different policies. All’s concepts, procedures and future programmes have been much different from that in the past due to changes of everything. To be honest, the people of us are very pleased with smooth transformation into a new system that is going in line with the desires of today’s people who are thirsty for reforms.

Now, Myanmar has witnessed a constitution which serves as a foundation for building a modern, developed democratic nation. Legislative, executive and judicial powers have been in force in accordance with the constitution. The people have been bestowed the right to elect representatives to Hluttaws of their own accord and the right to stand for election. They are sound foundations for emergence of a discipline-flourishing democracy system.

 

It is therefore required of the government, departments and the people including political parties to have a sense of democratic process to be able to practise democracy correctly, making good use of those sound foundations. In that regard, the entire people are responsible for honouring the existing laws, culture, customs and traditions in exercising their freedom and rights. The Myanmar society will become democratically disciplined only if every citizen is capable of distinguishing between freedom and duty, and discipline.

 

The entire people including me are keeping their eyes on the new government to see what its formation, concepts, procedures and goals are like. We have recognized that the government is working hard to translate its words into reality in a short period. It is commonly accepted that the first five-year term is the most indispensable for building a modern, developed democratic nation. Without doubt, the nation’s ultimate goal will be brought to fruition in no time if the nation can take giant steps towards the goal in the first five-year term.

 

In the time of the market economy, every citizen shall have access to jobs. The government shall create job opportunities. Every citizen must work hard. Only if every citizen works, can they earn incomes. And the nation’s GDP will be on the increase. Taking advantages of emerging economic opportunities, the people should do businesses in accordance with the law to improve their socioeconomic status. At the core of this process lies stability and peace. Only with will it be possible for every citizen to do their businesses and become affluent. So, it is safe to say that stability and peace is the most fundamental requirement for shaping the future of the nation and the people.

The people all accept that today the nation is witnessing stability and peace at the unprecedented level. The rule of law and security have prevailed the whole country except some border areas. Every citizen can do their businesses safely and peacefully and has freedom of activities under the protection of the law. Therefore, the people are sensitive to any acts that can harm stability and peace. They cannot bear the thought of seeing stability and peace being undermined for some reason. It is absolutely unacceptable to every citizen that they are in a state of panic instead of leading a comfortable life in stability and peace.

 

Yet, there are certain persons who are attempting to get the nation in terrible mess the people of us are in fear of. We assume that by misfortune, the nation still sees those anxious to stir up a variety of problems to break up stability and peace. The people of us will be heartrending if constructive forces’ efforts slow down or come to a halt at the instigation of destructive elements. We really feel weary with anxiety whenever we think about the negative impact of such possible disruptions.

 

From the point of law, NLD is defunct. The Union Election Commission issued Announcement (18/2010) dated 9-4-2010 reminding the 10 political parties that still met Article 25 of Political Parties Registration Law at that time that they could apply within 60 days for continued existence as political parties. However, only five of them did so. It is common knowledge that the five political parties did not include NLD. It did turn its back on the process of election, giving lame excuses. So, NLD is in the list of the organizations that have cannot stand any longer as political parties according to the law as they have failed to apply for continued existence. As is known to all, NLD has been removed from the list of political parties that have renewed their registration and has been dissolved according to Announcement 97/2010 dated 14-9-2010 by the Union Election Commission.

 

As far as I am concerned, some of the five political parties that failed to renew their registration joined other parties or formed new parties to stand for election. According to the records, of the 32 parties that took part in the 2010 election, 22 won seats. The majority of the parties that stood for election enjoyed the rights to be part of Hluttaws and participate in the talks in Hluttaw sessions. Without participation in the election, any party cannot enjoy those rights.

 

If they extended a helping hand in the proceedings in the national interests and stood for election in line with the democratic practice to enjoy power in spite of different views and stances, it would be acceptable to the people. Nevertheless, the dissolved party claimed that it was opposed to the 2008 constitution, 2010 election, and both the old government and the new government that was elected in accordance with the constitution by the people. Making unreasonable demands, it proclaimed that national reconciliation was necessary. All they do with total reliance on external elements are contrary to the people’s desire and interests. It stills clings on to its negative attitude.

 

It is said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will soon make a tour of the country. Her followers and supporters are gushing that the icon must keep in touch with the public. They seem willing to exploit the public. They also propagate that the government is responsible for security of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her trip. We are deeply concerned that if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi makes trips to countryside regions, there may be chaos and riots, as evidenced by previous incidents.

 

The government has said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is just an ordinary public member, so it will not restrict her from traveling and doing things in accordance with the law, but she shall honour the laws for the rule of law. For the people of us, it is an issue that there may be conflict between those who want her to travel and do things in the framework of the law and her who is always opposed to their benevolent attitude to her. A broadcast aired on 23 June morning by BBC says that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi lives in non-violence policy, but she can practice alternative policy if necessary. In fact, the right to renew their party in accordance with the law is still in the hands of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her members. These days, many organizations are applying for formation of political parties that cover the media. If they really want to continue party politics they have the rights to form a party in accordance with the law.

 

They should try in the framework of the law to stand as a legal party with old or new name. If they apply in line with the law, I do not think the commission will not give green light. How nice it will be if they do so!

 

Instead, they fail to get rid of their party signboard, keep opening their party office and hoisting their party flag even though they no longer have the right to stand legally as a political party. They are even trying to politically test the patience of the government that shows its benevolent attitude by not taking action against it. It should not be so. They should stop doing so to avert unnecessary consequences. They should take account into the desire of the people who are in favour of stability and peace.

 

In my opinion, the ultimate goal of a party should be to serve the interests of the nation and the people. It should take the political trend only through the hluttaws. And in standing for election for that political trend, they should respect the public’s vote in consistence with the democratic process. Different parties have different views and concepts, but should cooperate with each other for the common goal of national interests. In dealing with each other, parties should exercise democratic practice of following the desire of the majority and respecting the desire of the minority.

 

If a person really appreciates and values democracy, he should follow and practise democratic process with heart and soul. Myanmar’s democracy is still in its infancy, so it is to be nurtured for growth. So, it is vivid that they should choose hluttaw politics that can inculcate party members with good habit of exercising democratic processes. Therefore, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her members should take the approach to power through hluttaw politics, standing as a legal party in accordance with the law and honouring the vote of the people.

 

If a party wants to represent the public, it should try to win public support. To win public support, it needs to fulfil the public’s requirements. If it trusts the public, it should have enough courage to face the public vote. Today’s people favour development and want to lead a peaceful life with high socioeconomic status for which stability and peace is a must. So, there is public anxiety over the situations that can have effects on restored stability and peace. The people oppose instability and riots. I wish they would understand that point, ease the public worries and respect public desires. That is the key to survival of a party.

 

Now, there is still a way out of disruptions for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her group. If they want to stand as party in accordance with the law, there is an opportunity for them to make a good choice. This opportunity is still in their hand, not in the government and the people. Therefore, to choose either ways is up to them.

 

Translation: MS