• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
Published on open Democracy News Analysis (http://www.opendemocracy.net)
The trouble with elections
ByErin SimpsonCreated 2009-05-12 13:25[0]Monday's program was full of provocative and interesting discussions bywomen working for rights and democracy in repressive and violent contexts.Upcomingelections in both Sudan and Burma will present opportunities for democratic transformation, butalso significant challenges.In Sudan, the first general election since 1984 will be held in 2010.There have been significantproblems with the census, specifically that many displaced and refugee Darfuris were notcounted.The electoral procedures are extraordinarily complicated, with Southern Sudanesehaving to vote 12 times, and Northerners 7 times, for many different levels of government.There is lack of civic education among voters in all regions, very weak opposition to the rulingNational Congress Party, ongoing conflict in Darfur, the indictment of Sudanese PresidentBashir, patriarchal culture, lack of funding for electoral processes and security restrictions oncivil society and political parties.Despite these obstacles, women are engaging and organizing, holding workshops andconducting civic education.Women in all parts of the country have been engaged in longstruggles for their rights, and since the introduction of Sharia law in September 1984, they havenavigated increasingly hostile waters.They believe the Sudanese women’s movement is a vitalingredient in, and force for, democracy in Sudan.The people of Burma will, also in 2010, experience their first election since the 1990 electionsthat briefly elected Aung San Suu Kyi before the military re-took power in a coup.Theprospects for the 2010 election are grim at best.In the months following the May 2008 cyclonein Burma, the junta carried out a referendum on a new constitution, and both the referendumand the constitution turned out badly.The referendum was marred by forced voting andfraudulent vote counts, and even the trading of desperately needed aid for cyclone survivors for “yes” votes.The new constitution gives impunity to members of the military, despite significantmilitary crimes against the people of Burma.It also provides for a permanent role for the militaryin Burma’s politics, with 25% of seats in the parliament to be held by military.The documentlacks any guarantees of substantive equality for women, and women will be kept from runningfor President, since the constitution requires the President to have military experience.AungSan Suu Kyi, who was married to a British man, is also banned from running for election, sincethose married to foreigners are not allowed to stand for election.The military has further guaranteed a weak opposition to its rule, by barring monks, nuns, and all those with criminalrecords (including the 2000 political prisoners).Women played no role in the drafting of theconstitution.The democratic movements in Burma - including the Women’s League of Burma - areconcerned that the elections will legitimize the brutal rule of the regime, and they are pressingthe UN and the rest of the international community not to recognize the elections.
Page 1 of 2
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...