Preventing election violence in Myanmar: PUBLIC FORUM
Event Details
- Date:
- Wednesday, 27 May 2015
- Time:
- 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
- Room:
- Terrace Room
- UQ Location:
- Sir Llew Edwards Building (St Lucia)
- URL:
- http://www.r2pasiapacific.org/events-2015
- Event category(s):
Event Contact
- Name:
- Ms Carolina Caliaba Crespo
- Phone:
- 66435
- Email:
- carolina.caliaba@uq.edu.au
- Org. Unit:
- Political Science and International Studies
Event Description
- Full Description:
- PUBLIC FORUM
Myanmar is scheduled to have its general elections in the last quarter of this year—its first since the democratic transition began in 2010. At stake is the Tatmadaw’s (military) continuing dominance and control of the national, regional, and state legislatures through its government party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
It is also the first time that Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), will be participating in more than two decades. The NLD has been pushing for amendments to the 2008 Constitution that will enable Suu Kyi to run for the highest post in the country but this has been opposed by supporters of USDP in parliament. The NLD has threatened to boycott the elections if the military continues to resist amending the constitution.
Other factors that may contribute election violence include continuing tension between Buddhist and Muslim communities, as well as between majority Burmese and ethnic minority groups in the country; the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine state involving the Rohingyas: as well as ongoing military operations against rebel ethnic groups in the country even as the government is pursuing peace talks with these ethnic groups.
Myanmar is scheduled to have its general elections in the last quarter of this year—its first since the democratic transition began in 2010. At stake is the Tatmadaw’s (military) continuing dominance and control of the national, regional, and state legislatures through its government party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
It is also the first time that Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), will be participating in more than two decades. The NLD has been pushing for amendments to the 2008 Constitution that will enable Suu Kyi to run for the highest post in the country but this has been opposed by supporters of USDP in parliament. The NLD has threatened to boycott the elections if the military continues to resist amending the constitution.
Other factors that may contribute election violence include continuing tension between Buddhist and Muslim communities, as well as between majority Burmese and ethnic minority groups in the country; the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine state involving the Rohingyas: as well as ongoing military operations against rebel ethnic groups in the country even as the government is pursuing peace talks with these ethnic groups.
Dr Noel M. Morada is Director (Regional) of the Asia Pacific Centre for Responsibility to Protect.
He is a former Professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Directions to UQ
- Google Map:
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- Directions:
- St Lucia Campus | Gatton campus.
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