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| Image: Flickr User - Narendra Modi |
By Tridivesh Singh Maini
The NLD triumph could herald a new era in Myanmar-India relations.
The November 8 election in Myanmar produced a stunning victory for the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who trounced the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party.
However, a clause in the constitution will prevent Suu Kyi from becoming president, and the military is not likely to relinquish its dominance any time soon. Specifically, the 11-member National Defence and Security Council is the highest body in the government, and is dominated by unelected military personnel who have the authority to declare a state of emergency at any time. Significantly, the military is also constitutionally guaranteed one quarter of the seats in parliament plus the ministries of defense, home affairs, and border affairs.
Suu Kyi is unlikely to want to ruffle military feathers, and indeed has adopted a conciliatory approach, reaching out to incumbent President Thein Sein. Past experience in Asia suggests that this is sensible – leaders who adopt a belligerent approach towards the military before they have consolidated power often stumble, with democracy usually the major casualty. Suu Kyi clearly has her work cut out, needing to respond to the very high expectations of not just her domestic constituents, but also the international community, which will anticipate an acceleration of economic reforms.
One interesting question is the impact of the election outcome on Myanmar’s ties with other parts of the world, especially its neighbors China, Thailand and India.
Read the full story at The Diplomat