International Communication & Social Issues during the Burmese Election

1. International Communication & Social Issues during the Burmese Election

2. Myanmar’s Political Background • in 1948- Myanmar has been under authoritarian rule for five of the six decades since its independence as a British colony. • in 1988 - the first military dictatorship was replaced by Than Shwe, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) that guaranteed to restore state governance by multiple political parties. • in 1990 - the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi win in the election. But the new military junta refused to allow a new parliament, that make the authoritarian rule of the military junta remains up to this day.

3. Outside Burmese Response to the 2010 Elections Burmese exiles and refugees living outside of Myanmar are generally sceptical of the upcoming election . For many, this election is a morbid reminder of the 1990 elections that disallowed the winning NLD party their chance of control over the state. The current speculation is that the elections will clearly not be impartial. The ruling military junta is working towards limiting any outside interference and observation and is also barring many different ethnic political parties from participating.

4. Legitimacy Burmese legitimacy should be a more complex issue due to the ethnography. The current government’s legitimacy evolved from the previous colonial rule by British had established that everyone would be Burmese under their rule, within their borders. After independence in 1948, there were many attempts to unify the Burmese people before and after independence. But most attempts to do so were fairly unsuccessful. This causes huge problems for national unity and identity as Myanmar still suffers from these false social constructs. The current remedy for Burmese national legitimacy is one that is considered threatening to the military junta.

5. International Role and Influence on Burmese Politics • The international community has been active in trying to deter the military junta’s abuse of power and endless violation of human rights. The violence generated from the political upheaval. Myanmar has been hit with various sanctions by many different Western nations. These comprise of financial, trade and travel-related sanctions along with an arms embargo. These sanctions are effect on Burmese political life such as health, education, unemployment levels are very high and there is very little industrial growth has been hit hard due to the near loss of foreign aid.

6. Situation Analysis • The political processes and communication lines have been stalled and are in direct control by the junta. With the democratic processes suspended, it is more and more likely that the fastest solution for Myanmar to be out of this situation is military involvement to remove the junta by force. Whether this help would come from Western nations, the mobilized ethnic tribes throughout Myanmar or whomever would be welcome news at first. It is clear that ASEAN hasn’t been motivated in supporting change for the democratization of the Burmese state. The current elections was the most recent use of a political communications system but obviously because of the control the government has over it, it resulted in what would be expected of modern-day elections in Myanmar. The release of Aung San Suu Kyi was only merely a gesture from the government to placate many of its adversaries.

7. Understanding the Junta Communication • Use of Propaganda • Complete control over media outlets • Blockage of International Communication through the cut of Internet Lines, Phone Lines (int. and national) • Social media cut off, ban of foreign news websites & ban of forums/chatrooms • Border Control & Visa Control over foreign Journalists • Cutting of communication between ethnic tribes

8. Comparison to the Middle East • Iran Green Revolution (Twitter/Facebook) • Arab Spring

9. Globalization & Journalism • Journalists are not able to report about political events • Burmese Journalists are arrested immediately, Foreign Journalists face deportation as well as bans on re-entering the country • Famous DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma) operate from Thailand in association with the Government of Norway to broadcast news about Burma • Video Journalists are most wanted enemies of the state • Junta cannot block everything 100% - Journalists can still enter illegal and send reports with mobile satellite dishes, satellite phones or carry their reports/pictures/videos outside of the country

10. Social Issues of ethnic minorities • A huge variety of social identities • Rohingya minority on the Border to Bangladesh • Karen/Kachin State Conflicts • Different Languages, cultural background & origin (China, India, Mongolia, Thailand, Malaysia) • No contact with the International Community (No Internet access, low infrastructure, language barriers) • United Nations helping refugees in the Thailand refugee camps by giving them the opportunity to live in anothercountry

11. Myanmar’s 2012 Elections and Aftermath • Burma, currently under the administration of military backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) • on April 4, 2012 Aung San Suu Kyi won in 43 constituencies out of 45 which is considered a landslide victory. • The election was held to fill up 48 seats of vacancy in lower house, upper house, and regional parliament respectively.

12. Post Election Events • Killings • Forced Labor • Imprisonment • Violence against Women • Opening up international communication under pressure of international sanctions • Accepting foreign investors/companies to start working in Burma • Allowing foreign Journalists to get more Visas • Encouraging tourists to visit Burma

13. Referent • http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Burmese-in-US-Oppose-Upcoming-Burma-Elections--105824343.html • Washington Post, ( 2010), Burmese hold elections for first time in 20 years, taken from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/07/AR2010110700375.html • Newsblaze, 24 October 2010, Burma's Forthcoming General Election: Debate and Disputes , http://newsblaze.com/story/20101024091334nava.nb/topstory.html • BBC, 25 September 2007, Burma's 1988 protests, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7012158.stm • Tonkin, Derek, 01 July 1989, The 1990 Elections in Myanmar, http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs/DT-Elections.html • Vancouverite, 16 September 2010, Aung San Suu Kyi’s party banned from Burma election, http://www.vancouverite.com/2010/09/16/aung-san-suu-kyis-party-banned-from-burma-election/ • VOA, 10 November 2010, Burma releases first official Election results, http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2010/11/10/burma-releases-first-official-election-results/ • The Telegraph, 07 January 2010, Burma election could provoke a rise in refugees into Thailand and China, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/6946188/Burma-election-could-provoke-a-rise-in-refugees-into-Thailand-and-China.html • ALTSEAN, 16 November 2010, Before and after the election- the crime continues, http://www.altsean.org/Reports/Crimescontinue.php • Irrawaddy, 08 November 2010, DKBA Troops seize Three Pagodas Pass, http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=20004 • Al Jazeera English, 08 November 2010, Thousands flee Myanmar clashes , http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/11/2010118479326824.html • ALTSEAN, October 2009, Will ASEAN fail to confront the SPDC, again?, http://www.altsean.org/Reports/ASEANfailtoconfrontSPDC.php • Kachin News, 02 November 2010, Ethnic leaders skeptical about positive change after election http://www.kachinnews.com/news/1775-ethnic-leaders-skeptical-about-positive-change-after-election.html Irrawaddy, 06 September 2010, Two shot after dispute with soldiers; Mizzima News, 07 September 2010, Pegu enraged after youths shot dead by army officers Free Burma Rangers, 29 September 2010, FBR REPORT: Shan Team Member Gives His Life for Love and for Freedom SHAN, 05 October 2010, Military junta conducts military training to safeguard polling booths IMNA, 05 October 2010, IB No. 32 forces locals to porter goods KIC, 15 October 2010, Forced labor by army in Htan Ta Pin township

14. Kaladan News, 02 November 2010, Nasaka conscripts villagers for forced labor • DVB, 16 September 2010, ‘Activists’ jail term extended by 20 years • AFP, 28 September 2010, Jailed for anti-election activity; Irrawaddy, 28 September 2010, Monk Jailed for Anti-Electioneering; DVB, 28 September 2010, Anti-election monk sentenced to 15 years; IMNA, 30 September 2010, Mon monk sentenced to 15 years in Insein Prison • Irrawaddy, 29 September 2010, Arakan Monk Gets 8 Years; DVB, 30 September 2010, Anti-trafficking monk given 8 years; Narinjara News, 30 September 2010, Ashion Pyinya Sara Sentenced to 8 Years and 3 Months in Prison; Mizzima News, 30 September 2010, Arakanese abbot handed eight years in jail on sex charges • Narinjara News, 13 October 2010, Father kills Army officer for raping his daughter • DVB, 11 November 2010, Disabled woman raped by soldier • Khonumthung News, 10 November 2010, Soldiers try to rape woman in Chin state • Burma Election 2010, 09 November 2010, USDP Claims Victory; Opposition Cries Foul, http://www.burmaelection2010.com/news/national-news/614.html • Democratic Voice of Burma, 17 November 2010, http://www.dvb.no/elections/election-complainants-risk-jail-term/12925 • BBC, 13 November 2010, Burma releases pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11749661 • Democratic Voice of Burma, 17 November 2010, Suu Kyi reignites push for ethnic autonomy, http://www.dvb.no/elections/suu-kyi-reignites-push-for-ethnic-autonomy/12920 • Tehelka, 16 November 2010, Despite release of Aung San Suu Kyi, apprehensions over Burma’s future remain, http://www.tehelka.com/story_main47.asp?filename=Ws161110MYANMAR.asp

15. Thank you for your attention