The Lady and the Peacock: Book Review

Peter Popham has put together a master piece woven around the life of the most persistent, non violent follower of Mahatma Gandhi in contemporary history – that of Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma. The book chronicles her struggle for the voices of democracy to prevail in Burma, on the foot steps of her father [...]

Myanmar Elections 2012 – Reasons to Cheer but…

The global euphoria over the Myanmar by – elections is understandable. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won 43 of the 44 seats to the Parliament. NLD contested 44 of the 45 seats and won 43 save one where NLD candidate was disqualified. The victory is more symbolic than practical. The NLD [...]

Myanmar Elections…Did they Deliver?

For those who want to look beyond 2010, the New Year will usher an era where Burmese parliament includes 25 per cent army officers, more than 50 per cent from the USPD, and less than 25 per cent from the NUP. Only a lucky few from other parties can hope to seat in the new legislature. All of them will be under the thumb of General Than Shwe in association with Maung Aye. This is the kind of change that can be expected.

The Sham Elections in Burma

Enough has been articulated in these pages about the sham elections held in Burma on Nov 7. The Junta marginalised Suu Kyi and muzzled the media while banning elections in border areas to ensure a clean sweep. Initially we thought that Than Shwe would maintain some modicum of decency but that was not to be. [...]