HISTORY

Burma was ruled by the military-dominated Burmese Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) from 1962 until 1988. During the 26 years, BSPP practiced an isolationist policy. There was no semblance of democracy and the rule of law in the country. Violations of fundamental liberties were rampant and political parties, civil society movements such as workers and students were crushed. The economy deteriorated to a point where there were critical shortages in food.

On 8th August 1988 (popularly known as 8-8-88) hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life, marched to demand for elections and a civilian government. The military responded by brutally shooting and killing thousands of unarmed protestors. Thousands more were arrested or missing. Til today, there more some 1,500 political prisoners still languishing in prisons all over Burma.

The military orchestrated a coup by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) (renamed the State Peace and Development Council in November 1997) on 18th September 1988, and pledged peace and free elections. However, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who led the National League for Democracy (NLD) was put under house arrest in July 1989. This was followed by arrests of other NLD leaders and activists including NLD chairman U Tin Oo.

THE 1990 ELECTIONS

Despite grave impediments to NLD, on 27 May 1990, the party won 392 out of 485 parliamentary seats (>80%). Other ethnic-based parties opposed to the military won 65 seats. The army-backed National Union Party (NUP) won only 10 seats.

The military refused to recognise the elections. By law, the Parliament was to have convened within 60 days from the date of elections but SLORC chose to ignore the date. NLD organised and convened their Parliamentary Assembly instead, in what was called the Gandhi Conference, before the deadline lapsed.

SLORC responded by intensifying its repression, especially on NLD parliamentarians-elect. Some were forced to flee the country while others found themselves incarcerated in prisons or in their homes. NLD party offices were closed down; rank-and-file party activists were harassed, arrested and imprisoned.

The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, the government-in-exile was officially formed in Manerplaw on 18 December 1990. One of the declared principles was that it would be dissolved once democracy and human rights are restored in Burma.

Today, the junta continues to rule Burma as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). In May 2004, a 'National Convention' convened in Rangoon to draft a new Constitution. This exercise was rejected by NLD and other democrats who boycotted the Convention. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo remain under house arrest. Thousands are still political prisoners including 15 MP-elect. The UN said the Convention was another form of 'mass arrest'.