Burmese general election, 1990

Burmese (Myanma) general election, 1990

1960 ← 27 May 1990 → 2010

All 492 seats to the Burmese Parliament   First party Second party Third party   Leader Aung San Suu Kyi U Tha Gyaw Khun Htun Oo Party NLD NUP SNLD Seats won 392 10 23 Popular vote 7,943,622 2,805,559 222,821 Percentage 58.7% 21.2% 1.7%

Prime Minister before election Saw Maung Military Prime Minister-designate Saw Maung Military Aung San Suu Kyi (not recognize) NLD

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General elections were held in Burma on 27 May 1990, the first multi-party elections since 1960, after which the country had been ruled by a military dictatorship. The elections were not meant to form a parliamentary government, but rather to form a parliament sized constitutional committee to draft a new constitution.^[1]

The elections were won convincingly by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), who took 392 of the 492 seats. However, the military junta refused to recognize the results, and have since ruled the country as the State Peace and Development Council. Voter turnout was 72.6%.^[2]

Background

The aftermath of the uprising in 1988 and the rise of leader Aung San Suu Kyi placed worldwide media attention on the political situation in Burma.^[3] In September 1988, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC, the predecessor to the State Peace and Development Council), in its Declaration No. 1, had set four goals for the country: to maintain law and order, improve transportation, improve the humanitarian situation and hold multi-party elections.^[4] It also stated that the military would not "cling to power for long".^[4] Suu Kyi had been calling for dialogue between the SLORC and the citizens of Burma.^[5] In May 1989, the government reopened universities that had been involved in the uprising the previous year. At the same time, the government conceded and a date for the election was set for May 1990 with political parties registering for the election immediately.^[6] The date, 27 May 1990, was chosen for its auspicious nature surrounding the number 9; 27 May (2+7=9), and on the fourth Sunday of the fifth month (4+5=9).^[7]

Parties and campaigning

93 political parties presented a total of 2,297 candidates to contest the 492 constituencies, with at least 2 candidates per constituency.^[8] Of the 93, 19 different ethnic parties also took part in the election.^[9] The National Unity Party (NUP) was favoured by the party to win.^[8] Suu Kyi, a popular opposition figure, ran against General Ne Win's largely disliked associate, Sein Lein.^[10] The symbol for the NUP was a sheaf of rice stalks, and the NLD's was a straw hat.^[11] Some people took to wearing rice stalks around their bare feet, a grave insult in a Buddhist country.^[11]

Although election campaigning was underway, the government placed restrictions on opposition politicians. U Aung Gyi, a former member of the junta, was expected to lead a weak coalition that would not challenge the interests of the army. He was imprisoned in 1988 for his outspoken views against the regime, but criticised Suu Kyi for being a "radical manipulated by Communists".^[11] Former Prime Minister U Nu remained under house arrest during the election process,^[12] as was Suu Kyi since 20 July 1989, without trial.^[13] Throughout campaigning, the government kept its restrictions on public gatherings and political meetings, and required all political literature to be approved by the SLORC prior to publication; however political parties defied the ruling.^[14] Two days before the election, visas for 61 foreign journalists were unexpectedly issued to cover the vote.^[8]

Results

The National League for Democracy won 392 out of 492 seats that were in the end contested; the junta's party (NUP) came second in terms of vote share (21%) but fourth in seats (10).^[8]

Party	Votes	%	Seats
National League for Democracy	7,930,841	59.9	392
National Unity Party	3,312,122	21.2	10
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy	220,835	1.7	23
United Nationals Democracy Party	182,752	1.5	1
Rakhine Democratic League	157,255	1.2	11
Mon National Democratic Front	135,874	1.1	5
National Democratic Party for Human Rights	128,129	1.0	4
Democracy Party	63,387	0.5	1
Party for National Democracy	61,791	0.5	3
Chin National League for Democracy	51,277	0.4	3
Union Paoh National Organisation	43,214	0.3	3
Arkan People's Democratic Front	31,620	0.3	0
Union Danu League for Democracy Party	23,145	0.2	1
Ta-ang National League for Democracy	22,223	0.2	2
Democratic Organisation for Kayah National Unity	16,580	0.1	2
Lahu National Development Party	15,794	0.1	1
Kachin State National Congress for Democracy	13,994	0.1	3
Mro (Khami) National Solidarity Organisation	12,578	0.1	1
Zomi National Congress	12,372	0.1	2
Kaya State Nationalities League for Democracy	11,664	0.1	2
Naga Hills Regional Progressive Party	10,612	0.1	2
Kaman National League for Democracy	10,596	0.1	1
Graduates and Old Students Democratic Association	10,508	0.1	1
United Nationalities League for Democracy	8,929	0.1	1
Shan State Kokango Democratic Party	7,392	0.1	1
Karen State National Organisation	6,401	0.1	1
Mara People's Party	592,958	4.5	1
Patriotic Old Comrades' League			1
61 other parties			0
Independents	151,763	1.1	6
Vacant	-	-	7
Invalid/blank votes	1,865,918	-	-
Total	15,112,524	100	492
Source: Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

Initially, the junta said it would honour the results of the election, but would not relinquish power until a new constitution had been drafted, which could take up to two years.^[15] However later the government, surprised at the outcome, annulled the results and many opposition politicians went into exile, with some forming the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.^[16] Two months after the election, the SLORC issued Order 1/90, explaining it had legitimacy to rule as it was recognised by the United Nations and individual countries, as well as ensuring it would prevent the breakup of the Union.^[17] It required all parties to recognise and accept the Order, and many opposition figures who refused were arrested.^[17]

References

1. ^ Steinberg, David (2010). Burma/Myanmar - What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press. pp. 90–93. ISBN 978-0-19-539067-4. 
2. ^ Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I, p611 ISBN 019924958
3. ^ Reid, Robert; Grosberg, Michael (2005). Myanmar (Burma). Lonely Planet. pp. 35. ISBN 978-1740596954. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Guyot, James F (1991). "Myanmar in 1990: The unconsummated election". Asian Survey (University of California Press) 31 (2): 205–211. JSTOR 2644932. 
5. ^ Ling, Bettina (1999). Aung San Suu Kyi: standing up for democracy in Burma. Feminist Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-1558611962. 
6. ^ Ling, 1999, p. 63.
7. ^ Perry, Peter John (2007). Myanmar (Burma) since 1962: the failure of development. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp. 43. ISBN 978-0754645344. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d} Eur (2002). Far East and Australasia 2003. Routledge. pp. 863. ISBN 978-1857431339. 
9. ^ Steinberg, David I (2001). Burma, the state of Myanmar. Georgetown University Press. pp. 46. ISBN 978-0878408931. 
10. ^ Ludwig, Arnold M (2004). King of the Mountain: The Nature of Political Leadership. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 106. ISBN 978-0813190686. 
11. ^ ^{a b c} Erlanger, Steven (1 April 1990). "The Burmese Are Going to Vote; the Army Tells Them To". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/01/weekinreview/the-world-the-burmese-are-going-to-vote-the-army-tells-them-to.html. 
12. ^ Erlanger, Steven (27 May 1990). "Burmese Vote Today, or Do They?". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/27/world/burmese-vote-today-or-do-they.html. 
13. ^ Silverstein, Josef (1996). "The Idea of Freedom in Burma and the Political Thought of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi". Pacific Affairs 69 (2): 211–228. http://charlesesalazar.pbworks.com/f/The+idea+of+freedom+in+burma+and+the+pol+thought+of+aung+sang+suu+kyi.pdf. 
14. ^ Ling, 1999, p. 64.
15. ^ Anderson, Jack (11 June 1990). "Even with elections, Burma is slow to change". Kentucky New Era. http://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=FvMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PmoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5882,3863425&dq=. 
16. ^ Gravers, Mikael (1999). Nationalism as political paranoia in Burma: an essay on the historical practice of power (2 ed.). Taylor & Francis. pp. 69. ISBN 978-0700709816. 
17. ^ ^{a b} Eur, 2003, p. 864.