The document discusses Myanmar's recent parliamentary elections and the challenges facing the incoming government. It notes that over 27 years ago, protests for democratization were violently suppressed by the military. The recent elections are a step towards what many people fought and died for, but there are still concerns. While the elections are an improvement over the past, the current government still has many former military generals and 25% of parliamentary members are still active military. True transition will not be achieved until the military has less influence over politics and elections are more free and fair. The author recalls voting with both hope and skepticism, wanting their vote to help create a true transition to lasting peace and freedom in Myanmar.

1. Towards Democracy and Reconciliation: Challenges Facing Myanmar’s Incoming Government
Monday 15th
February 2016, Lady Margaret Hall
International Gender Studies, Lady Margaret Hall 13
Programme for Modern Burmese Studies, St Antony’s College
Myanmar’s Transition and the Vote
A little over 27 years ago, the people of Myanmar watched helplessly as their protests for
democratisation were put down by the Burmese military in one of the most violent repressions the
country has ever seen. This same country is now holding parliamentary elections, and is mere steps
away from accomplishing what countless people have given their lives for. This election will be the
second since the military government finally started to release their chokehold on the country’s politics
after the well‐publicised Saffron Revolution of 2007.
When thinking about my country’s politics, I am personally troubled by the word “transition” — which
has so often been used by journalists, because it entails that there is indeed an end point, a moment
where one reaches a goal. For over 50 years since the former dictator U Ne Win seized power in 1962,
the leaders of the country has always been in military uniform, at least at one point in their lives. The
current “civilian” government is full of former army generals and, in fact, 25% of parliament members
are actually still in active service according to a one‐sided constitution. I am therefore unsure whether
the political change in Myanmar has actually been a move forward or a mere metamorphosis of the
status quo. The word transition would only be fit to describe Myanmar when there is a more favourable
proper citizen‐to‐army ratio, and so far only the opposite has been true.
For those conflicted by this statement, simply remind yourselves that the turnout of the previous
elections in 2010 were almost laughable. The US government officially called it a “mockery” and even
fellow ASEAN Philippines described it as a “farce.” Every voting‐age adult I knew scoffed at the results,
knowing they had been hugely cheated.
When I voted for the first time this year, I felt a sickening feeling in my stomach as it reminded me of the
same feeling. I feared that my vote would be simply flushed down the toilet and that I would be cheated
at the end of the day. I questioned myself as to what was actually the point in coming all this way. I
almost threw a tantrum at the voting booth, anticipating such a pre‐meditated cheat of my vote. But as I
filled in my voting sheet and casted it away, I calmed myself in believing that even though we all know
the game is rigged, we must nevertheless all try to make the most of our voting powers. If it were not for
people like me, who else?
This is after all, the beginning of what we all have longed for. I reminded myself that this vote, my
singular ballot, is not just a piece of paper for which political party I prefer, but forms part of a larger
collection in deciding the future of my 55 million other peers. I sealed my ballot with hope that my vote
would help in making my country finally worth of a true “transition” to lasting peace and freedom.
My final thoughts as I exited were reflecting upon the efforts of all the people’s toil for this moment, and
I decided to walk the long way back home, contemplating with a heavy heart of what has yet to be
achieved.
November 9th
, 2015
Aung Khant is from Yangon, Myanmar and currently pursuing a Masters degree in Urban Studies at Sciences Po in
Paris, France. He obtained his B.A. in Political Science and Asian studies, also from Sciences Po Paris.