THE STORY BEHIND BURMA'S ELECTION 2010
An undercover investigation of the election by DVB Journalists
[TITLE MUSIC FADE OUT]
Burma has been ruled by a dictatorial Junta since a military coup in 1962.
[CHORAL DRONE]
For half a century the military government have crushed any dissent in an attempt to maintain control.
In November last year the Junta held an election saying they wanted to move towards democracy and relinquish power at last.
[CHORAL DRONE FADE OUT]
But before the country had even got to the polls, secret cameras were finding a different story.
During campaigning one party stood out. The military backed Union Solidarity and development party or USDP.
[UPSOT- CROWD CHEERS]
We must win, we must win
Victory, victory
In the weeks running up to the poll, the USDP, was everywhere.
Its banners and signs dominated, they had vastly more money and more candidates than any other party.
[INTERVIEW 1] The USDP are offering incentives for votes. as they are giving out good loans and fertilizer so voters have no choice but to vote for the USDP.
Burma is a country where many areas are lacking basic facilities. With substantially more funding and government support the USDP was able to offer rewards for people's votes
[INTERVIEW 2] The candidate opened a library and built roads
People were pleased with that kind of thing so his campaign was successful
In the Pale district of Rangoon, voters said USDP candidates weren’t satisfied with the usual campaign techniques.
[INTERVIEW 2] Even though he is ahead in getting the vote, the village authorities, like the head of the village threatened people and said to them that something bad will happen if they don’t vote for him
In every village they had these threats and propaganda.
In contrast, candidates for other parties found themselves heavily restricted on the campaign trail.
Candidates had to apply a week in advance if they wanted to meet more than 3 supporters at once, and anything they said had to be preapproved
[YU ZAR MAW HTUN]
As a politician I want to respond directly to the voters on their questions, I definitely don’t want to read out the paper so how can I put a week ahead for what I am going to say and tell the voters.
Yu Zar Maw Htun is one of few independent candidates who contested the elections. With a registration fee of 500 dollars for each candidate to run many were unable to afford it.
Throughout the campaign she said she was monitored by military intelligence
[UPSOT- YU ZAR MAW HTUN SPEAKING]
There’s another guy in the tea shop hiding his face with a newspaper.
Despite the high cost of registration, the USDP managed to field a candidate for every single seat.
Links between the USDP and government authorities also raised alarm bells. Rangoon City’s mayor and USDP candidate Aung Thein Linn was one of several candidates accused of allegedly using state funds for their campaigns.
[INTERVIEW 3] He was wearing badges implying that he will compete in the elections, so is the mayor doing his USDP work? If he is using the city municipal committee’s office and its funds for USDP work he should be removed from his position as mayor, or he should resign himself, but we cannot accept him doing this because there is no longer a balance between the political parties, making the poll unfair.
[AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
Fairness does not just mean being allowed to put your votes into a box freely on election day. Fairness means that the whole process of campaigning has to be fair as well and the rules and regulations have to be fair as well and if the rules and regulations had been fair and the whole process had been fair I think the results would have been extremely different
[CHORAL DRONE]
Aung San Suu Kyi won the last election held in Burma in 1990 but unwilling to give up control, the Junta refused to recognise the result.
Just before that election the military put her under house arrest where she spent 15 of the last 21 yrs.
Her party, the National league for democracy or the NLD won the election by a land slide.
[CHORAL DRONE FADE OUT]
[USDP MUSIC]
The USDP is Burma's biggest political group.
This time it was them who won the elections by a landslide.
The USDP won 873 seats - or 75 percent of the vote.
It’s a front for the military.
It boasts several former generals many of whom now fill top parliamentary positions.
Their party dominates the parliament.
[USDP MUSIC FADE OUT]
[THEME MUSIC]
Just before the election, government officials started gathering votes from those who would not be able to make the ballot stations. It was called advance voting.
[THEME MUSIC FADE OUT]
[INTERVIEW 4]
The Election Commission member and the USDP campaigner went from house to house to get the advance votes
I heard about 150 people gave advance votes
Those who gave advance votes are neither old, nor sick, nor travelers. Some of them are not even on the voting list
In many places the USDP used these advance votes to ensure victory.
Some voters were willing to speak about the coercion on camera, but for their own safety none of these people will be identified by name.
[INTERVIEW 5]
They demonstrated ticking and ask me to tick like that.
When I asked if I could tick on other parties, they said it was only practice.
I insisted that I wanted to tick others if this was practice but they said I couldn't do that.
and finally I had to tick on their USDP logo.
Hers was not an isolated case.
[INTERVIEW 6]
We were given three ballot paper for me, my husband and one other.
They asked me to tick the USDP's Lion Logo.
When I asked about it they told this was just a practice
we still had to go to the ballot station and cast the vote.
They said my daughter could tick the paper on behalf of my husband, as he was away. My daughter wanted to tick the pretty logo, as she thinks like a child
but they insisted she tick only the Lion Logo.
Reporters also found examples of dubious procedures in counting these early votes.
The less official nature of advanced voting meant the counting could not be monitored properly.
[INTERVIEW 7]
They did not count the votes. Instead they put all the ballot boxes in a room inside the office.
I asked them if they were counting the votes and they said they were not
As there are more votes to come in the following days
So I asked “what about the votes?”
And they said there will be policemen guarding outside so not to worry.
We understood, according to election laws, the votes are to be counted in front of everyone
At the end of each day
However, we don’t know the details of the commission’s procedures.
Advance voting was widely condemned as a major way the election was unfairly tilted in favour of the USDP.
It was organised by Election Commission officials.
[AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
Well the advanced voting, it just seemed to be so incredible that there were so many advanced votes and the way in which they came pouring in, in some cases only after the results had been declared. So there was something very… very… undemocratic I suppose is the word one would have to use
[THEME MUSIC]
Democracy did not feature strongly in this election. The current constitution seems designed to keep the military in power behind a civilian facade, reserving a quarter of parliamentary seats for the military.
Responsible for drafting this constitution was the head of the USDP and Burma’s new president Thein Sein.
[THEME MUSIC FADE OUT]
[THEIN SEIN]
As I have been appointed president of this country
by the parliament
and as the person responsible for
the union parliament and union government
it is my duty to explain the procedures, policy
and stance of the new government
[CHORAL DRONE]
Thein Sein is a former senior ranking general and was prime minister of the military government. Shortly before the elections He retired from the military and formed the junta-backed USDP.
Known as mr clean for keeping out of trouble and with a reputation for absolute loyalty to former Army chief Than Shwe some have suggested he was chosen for the role in order to ensure the former dictator keeps
pulling the strings.
Burma's Junta said they held a free and fair poll.
But on election day, the camera teams found many were disappointed.
[CHORAL DRONE FADE OUT]
[INTERVIEW 8]
I went to the office four times today to get a registration card to vote and I couldn't vote
I want to vote very much
I have been trying since I heard there will be elections.
I am totally unhappy with this situation. Today I would very much like to make my own choice
The denial of voting rights was widespread and systematic - as the teams found in the town of Dalla.
[UPSOT- CAMERA MAN] These are the people who can’t vote
[SOUND BITES FROM DALLA]
[cameraman] Are you on the voters list
[Woman 1] You mean the one for voting?
Yes I am
[Woman 2] No, I didn’t get it.
[cameraman] Are you intending to vote?
[Woman 1] Yes
[cameraman] You didn’t get the list? They didn’t come to your house?
[Woman 2] No, I didn’t get it.
[cameraman] Do you have a national ID card
[Woman 2] Yes
[cameraman] So you have an ID card but no token number was given to you, is that correct?
[Woman 2] Yes
[cameraman] Have you got as token number?
[Man 1] No, I don’t.
[cameraman] So the Commission didn’t come and inform you?
[Man 1] Yes, they didn’t inform.
[cameraman] So you didn’t receive the voter number?
[Woman 3] No, I went to look for it yesterday
[cameraman] Have you received a voter number?
[Woman 4] No, I haven’t
[cameraman] Have you informed the Commission that you haven’t received it yet?
[Woman 4] Yes, I did.
[cameraman] Sister, have you got a token number?
[Woman 5] I didn’t get one
[cameraman] Are you intending to vote?
[Woman 4] Yes, I went but I couldn’t find it.
On election day loud speakers urged voters to the polls.
[UPSOT- LOUDSPEAKER] Voters can go and give their vote in two ballot stations…
For many of those who were able to vote, there was control and intimidation.
[INTERVIEW 9]
In polling station 5 there was a security guard in the polling booth. He told the voters how to vote, which party to vote for.
USDP members were telling people who to vote for forcefully, outside that polling station
No independent observers were allowed to monitor what was happening at the polling stations.
[INTERVIEW 10]
Of the four parties competing in our village, none of the parties except the USDP has representatives at the polling station.
The USDP just do as they please in the village.
Everyone in the polling station was their subordinate
The head of USDP in the area told a female voter to vote for USDP. I saw it myself when I went there to vote.
The government issued elections rules - but officials made sure voters voted in the right way.
[INTERVIEW 10]
The USDP representatives and EC members were closely watching the voters so they wouldn’t dare vote for the bamboo hat logo that they favoured, or the rice paddy logo, because they felt intimidated so they just voted for the lion
This widespread intimidation meant many voters were not free to make their choice.
[AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
We thought that whatever rules and regulations that the authorities had brought out at least they should abide by those rules and regulations and if they did not do so this was tantamount to a lack of rule in law that could even be interpreted as anarchy.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD party refused to participate in this election, saying it never going to be fair. In March 2010 the NLD announced their decision
[NLD ANNOUNCEMENT]
As there is no fairness in the election laws announced by the State Peace and Development Council, the National League for Democracy has unanimously decided not to reregister as a political party
Despite the NLD’s stance several pro democracy supporters did decide to run, but on the day of their results many found themselves disappointed and angry
[YU ZAR MAW HTUN] Because, as you see, we saw that the politics were manipulated in a way they wanted; very openly manipulated
Despite security DVB cameramen were able to meet up with Yu Zar Maw Htun again and hear her reaction to the election
[YU ZAR MAW HTUN] In some strange cases, there was one person who just came to the ballot station with a pile of ballots and voted all of them alone
So that implies it is allowed for one to vote on behalf of many.My representative tried to stop it but didn’t succeed
Many other candidates found similar problems,. Like Yu Zar Maw Htun, Democratic Party candidate Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein lost the vote. But she has now lodged a complaint about what she called unfair state control.
Although she is being closely watched soon after the election she agreed to speak to one of our covert cameramen.
[CHO CHO KYAW NYEIN] I accept my defeat in the elections however my complaint is for the residents who supported me and have been treated unfairly
She says the local USDP candidate appointed his close relatives as polling station staff who pressured people to vote for him.
[CHO CHO KYAW NYEIN]
All three of them were sitting in the ballot station
so their presence terrified the voters who favoured me
I went to check when I heard about it and found it was true
There were his father in law, his wife and his uncle, they were unfairly manipulating the voting by means of threatening. I submitted this case to the senior authorities.
[THEME MUSIC]
Despite numerous similar complaints Cho Cho is the only candidate from outside the USDP who has actually lodged an official complaint.
She gave us the official documents to explain why so few are willing to take that step.
[CHO CHO KYAW NYEIN]
I had to deposit 1000 dollars and will have to serve a year’s prison term if lose.
Honestly I don't want to be in prison at this age of over 60 However I am lodging a complaint as I felt I was treated very unfairly.
Some members of Cho Cho’s party did win seats, but according to the party leader U Thu Wai, their USDP rivals are still pursuing them
[U THU WAI]
They made sure that they won by using their own tactic. However, those who lost despite this still wanted to win, so they are suing. And according to their law a large amount of money is needed to do anything such as lodging a complaint. So they are using the weight of their money to see if they can defeat us. They want to win and they assume they can do so by using their money.
[U THU WAI]
Everything remains unchanged, the system is still the same. But I think this is a step towards democracy and we have participated in it
[AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
We don’t think it is necessarily a step forward towards democracy. I have said time and again that a blatant dictatorship is better than a parody of democracy because if there is a parody of democracy it makes people complacent.
It makes them think, or at least it gives them an excuse to say, that there is no longer any necessity to work for democracy in Burma.
The NLD launched a No Vote campaign to try to get people not to vote.
The actual turnout is disputed but the NLD claims its campaign was successful.
[AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
We as the NLD have enough evidence to think that our campaign was a success and less than 50 percent of voters went to the polls.
But thousands did turn out for the woman who many consider the rightful ruler of Burma.
Just one week after the election, the military released Aung San Suu Kyi from several years house arrest.
[UPSOT- AUNG SAN SUU KYI’S SPEECH AFTER ARREST]
We have always said that we depend on the people. Without this strength we could not achieve our goals and now we have to work together systematically
you cannot get what you want just by hoping for it
You have to know how to achieve it
And have the courage to do what is needed
Despite her uncompromising rhetoric and undoubted popularity, the NLD is facing challenges.
It has been banned as a party and some question what Aung Sann Suu Kyi can do now a military dominated parliament rules.
[AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
For more than two decades the NLD has been surviving because of the support of the people, even when we were supposed to be an officially registered political party we were deprived of our rights as a political party. So the survival of the NLD, the strength of the NLD is not in any registration office but in the will of the people
[CHORAL DRONE]
But the will of the people has never been a match for the military might and control in Burma.
And as well as making sure they are entrenched in the government, the military have found other ways to consolidate control. Shortly after the election, news broke that Burma are introducing mandatory military service.
[CHORAL DRONE FADE OUT]
[INTERVIEW 10]
Forcing us to join the army by threatening a five year jail term is not democratic
As well as increasing the size of Burma’s army, a clause of the draft allows retired military men to reassume their previous post in the case of a national emergency. So while Burma’s former dictator appears to have stepped down from any position of authority. this draft will allow him to retain a hold on the country.
The draft may also help the army to control many of Burma’s votatile border regions where they do not yet have power.
On the day of the elections ethnic Karen troops took control of the border town of Myawaddy.
The Burmese army retaliated and battle broke out along the border.
Since then this Karen group has formed an alliance with other rebel armies strengthening the resistance against the Burmese army, and the fighting in eastern Burma continues.
But the biggest battle will come over what happens next. The world is waiting to see whether this so called civilian government will make changes that Burma needs.
[president’s inauguration speech]
As we have all accepted this duty
all the representatives of the parliament, including myself
must wholeheartedly love and cherish the constitution
and the democratic Burma based on this constitution
and to protect it with your life [CHORAL DRONE]
The new president and his
wife’s names still appear on EU sanctions lists, along with other key
members of the former junta and its cronies.
The military’s main aim now is to end sanctions. South East Asia and a growing number of nations in Europe agree.
But with little to show for genuine change Aung San Suu Kyi says the time is not right.
[CHORAL DRONE FADE OUT]
[AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
I do not think it would help if the international community were to deceive itself into thinking there has been genuine progress. With regard to sanctions the NLD brought out a paper to explain why we think that this is not yet the time for sanctions to be modified or to be removed and there should be a review of the whole situation. And what we would really want the international community to do is to insist on an all-inclusive political process in Burma.
[FLUTE DRONE]
But the country’s state controlled media has warned that unless Suu Kyi and her party end their call for sanctions - they will "meet their tragic ends".
And in Burma, that is no idle threat.
[ENDING CREDIT MUSIC]
[CREDITS]
Camera operation and investigative reporting by
DVB VJ GROUP
Research
DVB research and documentation team
Archive
DVB archive
Translation and subtitling
Ye Thu
Aung Htun
Preliminary translations
DVB research and documrntation team
Music
Jonny Fowle
Video Editor
Ali Fowle
Investigation coordinator
Bo Bo
Assistant Producer
Ali Fowle
Co-producer
Ko Nanda
Executive Producer
Aye Chan Naing
Directed by
Evan Williams
A DVB PRODUCTION
DVB would like to thank all those who contributed significantly to this documentary but could not be named for security reasons