Credit Burma for successful elections

Akbayan Youth congratulates the people of Burma (Myanmar) for their historic, triumphant and successful elections and expresses its solidarity with them. The result of the elections vindicated the decades of struggle that pro-democracy activists and advocates courageously and persistently waged. It is also an indictment of the military junta’s abusive rule.

While not without irregularities, the international community and election observers noted that the conduct of the elections was generally peaceful. Indeed, the success of the elections should be credited to the people of Burma who persevered through decades of abuse under the heavy hand of their military rulers. The result of the elections opens a new chapter in Burma’s history and, hopefully, signals the advent of greater democratic reforms in their country.

We would like to congratulate as well the country’s newly democratically elected leaders. We are optimistic that they will lead the country to a better future and push for reforms. They should wield the huge mandate given to them by the people to push for a people-centered government that would be in stark contrast to the corrupt and abusive rule of the military junta.

The success of this election proves that the people of Burma need, deserve and are prepared for a more democratic regime. We hope they will serve as an inspiration to other peoples of Southeast Asia, especially those in countries still fighting for democracy.

While we join the international community in celebrating this triumph of democracy, we urge the people of Burma especially their youth to remain vigilant against elements of the military establishment. It is not farfetched for military rulers, who profited from their iron grip on power for years, not to respect the results of the elections. However, we are confident that the Burmese people, especially the youth, will not allow them to roll back the gains made by the prodemocracy movement.

—RAFAELA DAVID, for Akbayan Youth