Fresh doubts hit Myanmar

 Published: 26/03/2012 at 02:35 AM ...

The eyes of the world have frequently been on Myanmar over the past 50 years, but seldom as hopefully as this week. On Sunday, Southeast Asia's most recent abusive dictatorship will hold by-elections. Prominent among the candidates is Aung San Suu Kyi, the very model of a modern democrat. Until recently, Myanmar authorities banned, barred, abused and imprisoned her in their effort to keep democracy and accountability at bay. The new government is risking a lot by the way it is conducting the coming elections.

Last week, after a promising start at openness, authorities ordered the respected election watchdog group Anfrel to leave the country. Anfrel _ Asian Networks for Free Elections _ had been in Myanmar for more than a month preparing for this weekend's polls.

On the same day it kicked out the independent group, Myanmar invited US and European governments to send observers to watch the vote. To Anfrel, officials offered the type of lame and unconvincing excuses that are so familiar with dictatorships and other regimes with something to hide _ improper visas, incomplete paperwork and so on.

The impression left by Myanmar is that the authorities in that country do not want independent experts to watch the polls. Diplomats make better foils than observers. Host governments can control the movements of diplomats, who by nature are not prone to speak out about any election abuses, cheating or intimidation, even in the unlikely event they see it. Anfrel and similar groups, however, are credible, trained experts in election honesty and cheating. One should add the media, since Myanmar is quite eager to restrict press coverage of Sunday's vote by those most dedicated to revealing the truth about any dishonesty or ballot theft.

By restricting or even by seeming to restrict honest observers like Anfrel, Myanmar hurts its own image in numerous ways. The US government's official reply to the invitation to watch Sunday's polls summed up the mixed reaction well. A spokesman for the US State Department said that on the one hand, Washington was pleased to receive an invitation to observe the vote. On the other hand, said spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, the process of Sunday's election falls short of international standards and acceptability. The reason for that is simply put: it is not transparent.

There is only one correct, accepted way for a government to address election observers: not at all. If there is any legal problem between would-be observers and government, such as Anfrel's members' visas, a righteous government will quickly solve them. By forcing members of the group to leave Myanmar, the government has left a single impression. They may not actually have anything to hide but by seeming to harass the well-known group, the authorities have left the lasting impression of trying to hinder the group's work.

The role of a government in organising an election is admittedly tricky. It must keep the peace and ensure that no outsiders interfere. But harassing would-be election observers is no way to build the sort of credibility that the Myanmar regime apparently wants, and certainly needs.

Myanmar should work hard this week to smooth the bureaucratic wheels to welcome Anfrel and the world media in to watch its polls on Sunday. Anything less will cause doubt about the commitment of Myanmar to democratic reform.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/285986/fresh-doubts-hit-myanmar