New article by Albertina Soliani for “Avvenire”: a new time after the elections in Myanmar

Dear Director, the political election of the past 8th November – won by Aung San Suu Kyi and her party the National League for Democracy (NLD) by a landslide – started a new time in Myanmar. The people’s vote confirmed they chose democracy. And the process is strengthened, despite the difficulties, the suspension of voting in some Townships due to armed conflicts, the kidnapping of three NLD candidates in Rakhine, the killing of an elected parliamentarian in the north of the Shan and despite the fact that the Constitution in force – that of 2008 – is undemocratic. The vote was very participatory and peaceful in full pandemic emergency.

With more than 80% of the votes and an absolute majority of seats, the NLD could have given life to its own government, but it has chosen to form a government of national unity by inviting the 48 ethnic parties – expression of a population of 135 recognised ethnic groups – to participate. A strategic choice to strengthen the process of reconciliation, inclusion and peace, and to build the Republic of the Federal Democratic Union, which is the political goal of this legislature. After more than 60 years of military, centralist and nationalist government, democratic federalism is the horizon of the 21st century for Myanmar, the way to peace. The gesture of the Arakan Army armed group in Rakhine can also be read in this context. In the days following the ballots the AA appealed to the government and the military, calling for voting to be held as soon as possible even in the areas where it had been cancelled, while the military gave their assent to negotiate with the rebels. A new political, constituent season has therefore opened in these days and for the next five years. The military shall have to confront with it: they were defeated in the polls, yet they still retain a political role with important levers of power in hand. Yet, they too know that their role is destined to be scaled down. The next three months will see the election of the highest state officials and the formation of the government. It is the Myanmar of the 21st century that the people forged with the elections of 2012, 2015, 2020, constantly confirming and giving an overwhelming majority to the NLD. This is the time for a new dialogue between the international community, Myanmar and its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Located in the Asian chessboard, between India and China, member of ASEAN, with intense political and economic relations with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore, Myanmar is partner of the great multilateral trade agreement of the Pacific recently signed by 14 countries. It is paramount in the Chinese Belt and Road initiative and boasts deep ties with Europe.

The West and international organisations of human rights and cooperation cannot miss this appointment. We know that in recent years the approach of criticism towards Aung San Suu Kyi on the issue of the Rohingya has prevailed, immediately turned into the fall of her icon. An approach that does not do justice to her nor to the complexity of Myanmar nor to the international and geopolitical interests at stake nor to the search for real solutions to the problem of that ethnic and religious minority. It does not do justice to her, a leader in her country for thirty years, a non-violent leadership, lived under house arrest for twenty years, and unmatched in the world. It does not do justice to her effort to involve the international community in 2016 through the Rakhine Investigation Commission set up by her and entrusted to Kofi Annan. But the international community and the media ignored it. A missed appointment, the delivery of the Annan Report to her and to the world on 25th August 2017. From there the exodus of the Rohingya to Bangladesh has started with the attacks by the terrorist group Arsa (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) on the same day and the brutal crackdown of the military.

It is not surprising that before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, called by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to respond to the charge of genocidal intent by her Country, she denied this intention, even if she had acknowledged the seriousness of the episodes of violence. She was thinking about the future of Myanmar and of the Rohingya. And now it is time for everyone to change direction. It is time for the West to have a far-sighted political strategy, which actually supports the democratic process in Myanmar, the national reconciliation and the return of the Rohingya, which also opens up to an economic and commercial partnership with mutual benefit. Three years ago, in these days, Pope Francis was in Myanmar. A meeting not forgotten, a journey that still continues.