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VIDEOTAPED MESSAGE FROM DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI ON THE OCCASION OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAY 1990 ELECTION VICTORY OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
Presented at a Capitol Hill luncheon honoring the NLD
May 16, 2000
It was a surprise to me to learn that the NED was planning to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the elections of 1990, but it was a very pleasant surprise.
The elections of 1990 are an important landmark in the modern history of Burma. After three decades -- almost three decades -- of military dictatorship, finally the people of Burma were going to be able to vote for a government of their choice. The elections of 1990 were free and fair. It was one of the freest and fairest that had taken place in this region at that time. But unfortunately, the results of the elections were not honored.
It seemed that the military regime had not expected the people to vote for the National League for Democracy. Or certainly, not to vote so overwhelmingly for the National League for Democracy. We were very proud and happy with the results of the elections of 1990, not because our party won more than 80 percent of the seats, but because the elections proved that the people of Burma were politically mature.
Two years before the elections, the people of Burma were allowed to form political parties. After 26 years of one-party rule, suddenly, they were allowed to form political parties. More than 200 political parties came into being within a few months. The military authorities obviously expected the democratic vote to be split between various parties. Not all 200 parties contested the elections; about 90 of them did. Still, that's a great number of political parties to be contesting elections.
But the people did not allow themselves to be diverted. They knew that the most important thing was to set up a strong, democratic government that would help to put the country back on the path of good governance. Because of that, they decided to vote for the National League for Democracy.
For us, the result of the elections was something we could be proud of. But it was something that also made us feel very humble. It showed us that political progress cannot be made without the willing cooperation of the people.
If the people of Burma had not voted for us in 1990, the world would not have known that this country wanted democracy. And by refusing to honor the results of the election, the military regime also made it clear to the world that they did not want democracy.
For the last ten years, we have been struggling for the right of the people to elect their own government, for the results of the elections of 1990 to be recognized. During these ten years, there have been many casualties. Many of those who were elected by the people were imprisoned, forced to resign from their membership of Parliament - although that is not legal, because until Parliament itself has met, no Member of Parliament can resign. Some were forced to go abroad to pursue their democratic activities. Many are still working for democracy but under very difficult circumstances. We have not given up our struggle, and we are not going to give up our struggle.
If this country is to achieve genuine democracy, the result of the elections of 1990 must be recognized. It must be recognized by the military regime, as it has been recognized by the people, and by the world at large. It is through this recognition that we will be able to make genuine progress in Burma.
The military regime declares that it, also, is working for democracy, that it also wants democracy for Burma. But they have to prove this by deeds, not by words alone. By arresting our people, by preventing our party from operating freely as a legal political organization, they are only proving to the world that their words and their deeds are on different tracks altogether.
We are particularly grateful to our friends and allies all over the world for supporting us in our endeavor to have the results of the 1990 elections recognized at this time, when the military regime are trying hard to pretend that the results of the elections are no longer valid. The results of these elections will remain valid until such time as the Members of Parliament elected by the people have had a chance to get together and decide what the next step is going to be.
It is for this that we have been working, and it is for this that the Committee Representing the People's Parliament was founded in 1998. The Committee Representing the People's Parliament, together with the National League for Democracy and other political parties, including a number of political parties representing different ethnic nationalities of Burma, will continue to work together to bring democracy to Burma, democracy that will bring human progress to our country, that will ensure the people a secure life, a life of liberty, and a life of development, based on human values.
I would like to thank the National Endowment for Democracy and Carl Gershman for arranging for this message to be made. I would also like to thank Senators McConnell and Moynihan and Congressmen Porter and Lantos for introducing the resolution with regard to the 10th anniversary of the 1990 elections in Burma.
It would be remiss of me not to thank President Clinton, Secretary Albright, and the American Administration for their staunch support of the democratic cause in Burma. We look upon the government of the United States and the people of the United States as friends and allies in our struggle to win democratic rights for all peoples.
I would also like to thank fellow Nobel Laureates for signing the Nobel Peace Laureates' Declaration, and to take the opportunity to say that their support has always meant a great deal to me personally and to all those who are working for democracy in Burma. I hope very much that as a result of this event, the importance of the 1990 elections in Burma will be widely recognized by the rest of the world. Thank you very much.