Democracy Movement

Aung San Suu Kyi addressing a political rally in Burma

Origin of the Democracy Movement

A military coup overthrew Burma's last democratically elected government in 1962, beginning a long period of military rule. In 1988, Burma's people took to the streets in their millions in a nationwide call for democracy. Cities, towns and villages across the country found themselves caught up in a wave of peaceful protest. Despite repeated violent crackdowns by the military and police over a six-week period, the demonstrations increased in size as the general public joined students. For the first time in nearly three decades, democracy flourished as a people denied expression for so long, despite all their diverse differences, gave a single clear message: they wanted to be free.

Crackdown by Burmese Military

The Burmese junta responded to the popularity of this democracy uprising by sending troops out into the streets during mass demonstrations on 8 August 1988 and opening fire on crowds of unarmed peaceful protesters in the capital city of Rangoon. As a result of the massacre, between 3,000 and 5,000 people were killed, whilst 10,000 students at the forefront of the movement were forced to flee to the jungle areas bordering Thailand in order to avoid capture by military units.

Democratic Elections Held

At a rally following the massacre, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi made her first political speech and assumed the role of leader for the democratic opposition. On 18 September 1988, General Saw Maung of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) seized power. In an effort to "restore order," the SLORC sent the army into the streets to suppress the on-going public demonstrations. The SLORC soon announced plans for the introduction of democracy with representation for many political parties, and the first national multiparty elections took place on 27 May 1990. The National League for Democracy (NLD) party won more than 80% of the vote and 392 of the 485 seats parliamentary seats.

Election Results Ignored

The military regime promised to hand over power to the NLD after a new constitution was drafted. However, the junta has refused to call parliament into session since the elections, and imprisoned or banished most of the opposition party leaders. In November 1990, a United Nations (UN) human rights investigator visiting the country condemned the regime for not immediately handing over power to the elected civilians. In April 1991, General Than Shwe announced there were no immediate plans to hand over power in the foreseeable future. Instead, the junta outlawed opposition activities and harshly repressed street demonstrations.

Political Talks Unsuccessful

In October 1991, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, although she remained under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002. In 1992, the regime initiated talks with civilian politicians to prepare for a national convention on a new constitution, although nothing further developed from them. The ruling junta changed its name to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in November 1997, but did not change its policy of autocratic control and repression of the democratic opposition. In 2000, the SPDC began secret talks with the political opposition led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. However, the talks did not produce progress on central issues regarding political transition and constitutional change.

Political Talks Stalled

When Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest on 6 May 2002, the international community and people of Burma expected the process of democratisation to move to the next stage of political change: substantive political negotiations. However, the regime's failure to begin political dialogue has prevented the anticipated democratic change.

Tripartite Dialogue

The international community demands that tripartite dialogue begin as soon as possible in Burma. This process would involve dialogue between three key groups in Burmese society: the NLD, leaders of ethnic groups and the military. A movement forward shaped by input from ethnic groups, who represent one-third of Burma's population, is a vital component to the future stability of a free Burma.

Political Prisoners

In 2002, the Burmese regime released a number of political prisoners, including NLD members. Nevertheless, human rights groups estimate nearly five times the number of those released remain incarcerated or working under forced labour conditions. Reports estimate the military junta holds more than 1,800 political prisoners, many of whom are routinely tortured, including trade unionists, students, monks, members of ethnic communities and 17 elected members of parliament. The release of all political prisoners is a key demand of Burma's democracy movement as a vital step towards political reform.

Crackdown on NLD

On 30 May 2003--now known as "Black Friday"--the military junta violently attacked Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and a motorcade of NLD members participating in an organising tour near Tabayin in northern Burma. Some opposition sources estimate up to 70 NLD supporters were killed when attackers beat them with clubs and iron rods, in addition to stabbing them with bamboo stakes. Military generals arrested Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and approximately 50 NLD members; furthermore closing down all NLD offices and universities in Burma to prevent further protest and anti-junta opposition. At least 94 individuals remain unaccounted for and listed as "disappeared."

Detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Reports indicate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was held for some time in a two-room hut under deplorable conditions at the infamous Insein Prison, and that she has been moved to an undisclosed location. The military junta appears to detain her under Section 10(a) of a 1975 State Protective Act designed to "safeguard the state against the dangers of subversive elements" allowing up to five years of imprisonment without a legal charge. Burmese foreign minister U Win Aung has stated the detention is temporary and will come to an end when the situation in Burma returns to normal.

Questions

1. What is the Nobel Peace Prize, why was Daw Aung San Suu Kyi awarded one in 1991 and what effect did this have on Burma?

2. What is a political prisoner and what types of people are political prisoners in Burma?

3. Why does the Burmese regime imprison and torture so many political prisoners and how might Burma be different today if they did not?

4. How could the junta treat political prisoners differently or release them, and what are the possible outcomes?

5. Why does Burma's democracy movement demand release of all political prisoners?

6. What is tripartite dialogue, and why does the international community insist it begin immediately in Burma?

7. How could the process of tripartite dialogue occur smoothly and what are the possible outcomes?

8. Why is a movement forward shaped by input from leaders on ethnic groups a vital component to the future stability of a free Burma?

9. What policies and actions can the Burmese regime take to begin the democratisation process?

10. Why did the democracy movement begin?

11. Why did the movement persist and grow stronger despite violent military opposition?

12. Why did the movement gain such popular support throughout all of Burma?

13. Why does the Burmese regime continually crackdown on the democracy movement, and how might Burma be different today if they did not?

14. What are other peaceful ways the junta could respond to the democracy movement, and what might the outcomes be of these responses?

15. Why does Daw Aung San Suu Kyi risk leading the Burmese democracy movement, despite spending time under house arrest?

16. Why did the military place Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest and imprison other NLD leaders, and what might have happened if they did not?

17. Why did the NLD sweep Burma's first free election in 1990?

18. Why did the regime not recognise the results of the election and hand over power to the NLD, and how might Burma be different today if they did?

19. What are ways the junta could hand over power to the NLD today?

20. Why did the SLORC ruling party of Burma change its name to the SPDC in 1997?

21. Why does the Burmese regime refuse to engage in political dialogue with the NLD and other opposition groups, how could this process occur smoothly and what are the possible outcomes?

22. Why did the junta attack and arrest Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD members on 30 May 2003?

23. Why did the military close down all NLD offices and universities in Burma after the attack, and what might have happened if they did not?

24. What is the 1975 State Protective Act, and what purpose does it serve?

Activities

1. Compare and contrast the Burmese democracy movement with another democracy movement or social movement. Consider a past or present social movement in your own country. Analyse tactics, demands, political organisation, leadership, participants, opposition, political climate, successes and failures.

2. Give a speech presentation outlining the arguments and demands of the NLD and democracy movement.

3. Complete an assignment on the life of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

4. Complete an assignment on Insein Prison, including what life is like in the prison, living conditions, treatment of prisoners and the kinds of crimes committed by inmates.

5. Complete an assignment on political prisoners in Burma and other countries. Devise policies for the regime to treat their political prisoners differently or release them, and the possible outcomes. Devise counterfactual scenarios for how Burma could be different today without the imprisonment of political prisoners.

6. Complete an assignment on tripartite dialogue, how this process could occur smoothly and the possible outcomes.

7. Complete an assignment on actions the Burmese regime can take to begin the democratisation process.

8. Complete an assignment on the history and purpose of the Nobel Peace Prize, why Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded one in 1991 and the effect this had on Burma.

9. Complete an assignment on why the Burmese junta violently opposes the democracy movement, and counterfactual scenarios for how Burma could be different today if they did not. Examine other peaceful ways the regime could respond to the democracy movement and the possible outcomes of these responses.

10. Organise classroom discussion and debate representing both sides of the democracy struggle in Burma.

11. Complete an assignment on why the military placed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest and imprisoned other NLD leaders, and counterfactual scenarios for what might have happened if they did not.

12. Complete an assignment on Burma's first free election in 1990 and why the NLD overwhelmingly won it. Examine why the junta did not recognise the results of the election and hand over power to the NLD, and counterfactual scenarios for how Burma might be different today if they did. Devise policies for how the regime could hand over power to the NLD today.

13. Complete an assignment on current political parties in Burma including the SLORC/SPDC and NLD. Focus on their history, organisation, leadership, constituents and policies. Compare and contrast them with political parties in your own country.

14. Complete an assignment on why the Burmese regime refuses to engage in political dialogue with the NLD and other opposition groups. Devise policies for this process to occur smoothly and describe the possible outcomes.

15. Complete an assignment on the 30 May 2003 attack on the NLD, including the latest news about the incident.

16. Complete an assignment on the 1975 State Protective Act used to justify detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Web Sites

For further information on the history of the democracy movement in Burma, please visit our Links Page.

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Last Modified: Sunday, 22-Apr-2007 16:12:41 EST
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