Democratic Victory in the Last Frontier

As days pass from the voting for general election, regime change in Myanmar is getting realistic. National League for Democracy, led by charismatic woman leader Aung San Suu Kyi, announced on Thursday that it secured 400 seats out of 664 in the congress, which made the birth of new democratic administration likely. Japan has to explore new relationship with the last frontier in Asian economy.

To the land-sliding victory of NLD, incumbent President, Thein Sein, already admitted the defeat of leading Union Solidarity and Development Party and congratulated Suu Kyi. Thein Sein promised smooth transition of administrative power. Foreign nations are recognizing new democratic administration. President of United States made a phone call to Suu Kyi to cerebrate her victory. “President Thein Sein should be proud of this historical turning point. Bold reform by the President addressed the future of Myanmar,” Obama told Thein Sein, according to a news report in Japan.

25% of all seats, 166, are occupied by the military. The election was held for the rest of 498 seats. According to official announcement, NLD occupied 291 out of 359 fixed seats, taking 80% share of voted seats. Military-led USDP won as few as 33 seats.

Myanmar Congress has bicameral system. The President will be elected from three candidates, candidates of people’s representatives of each house and of the military of both houses. But, a person who has foreign family cannot make presidency in legal provision in Myanmar. Suu Kyi is not eligible for the president, because she has a son with nationality of United Kingdom.

Suu Kyi is ambitions to be a supreme power in Myanmar, overwhelming new coming President. “I will decide everything as the leader of the party. The President has no power,” told Suu Kyi as soon as the voting was finished. Although result of the election was supported long democratic movement led by Suu Kyi, her bold remark caused criticism to new despotism. “Suu Kyi is saying that she wanted to amend the constitution made by old military regime,” told an officer of NLD.

Japan also is concerning the future of Myanmar. It has been said that Suu Kyi does not have good impression on Japan, because Japan has been supporting military administration with development aid, while the Western nations were taking sanctions. Although Japanese government invited Suu Kyi to Japan and met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, its effect on bilateral relation is not clear. In the situation that Myanmar is approaching China expecting great economic progress, reinforcement of Japan-U.S. alliance may cause further distance from emerging regime in Myanmar.