Myanmar: No Turning Back

The year 2011 was one of change for Myanmar. It was the year of the country's administration becoming "civil" in the eyes of many in the country and the world at large. A civilian government, albeit with a military past, was sworn in on 30 March 2011. President Thein Sein's inaugural speech to the parliament, outlining priorities for economic renewal, sustainable development, poverty alleviation, human rights and good governance, and recognizing the plight of ethnic minorities involved in armed conflict, was initially dismissed by many as "just words".

Six months later, however, observers within and outside the country were recognizing the steps outlined in this inaugural speech when changes started showing in Myanmar's political and economic scene. These changes include the freedom of movement (and speech) of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the loosened restrictions on the media, a law allowing workers the right to strike, amnesties for prisoners (including political prisoners), and steps taken towards economic reform. The pace set by the government on this road to reform seemed almost exhilarating to citizens and observers used to setbacks and stonewalling from the authorities in the past. The pace continued to surprise as 2011 progressed, peaking with the National League for Democracy (NLD) rejoining the political process, the agreement by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to Myanmar's bid to be the ASEAN Chair in 2014, and the landmark visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the country.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has described the reform process in Myanmar as irreversible. Optimists and critics share concerns on whether the "flickers of progress" described by U.S. President Obama will develop into a steady flame. Having cited the reforms as a key reason for its decision to give Myanmar the ASEAN chair for 2014, ASEAN, too, has much at stake.1

Reviewing developments in Myanmar in 2011, the picture that emerges shows the beginning of a convergence of interests, the first in decades, between the military-backed government, the polity in Myanmar, the forces for democracy symbolized by Aung San Suu Kyi, and the international community.

The Year in Review

The year 2011 saw a newly elected "civilianized" government in Myanmar. It had come to power in what many around the world had largely decried as sham elections in November 2010. The Hluttaw, or parliament, convened on 31 January. The government — comprising a large number of officials from the previous military regime — took office in March,² headed by Thein Sein as President. The appointment of Thein Sein as President surprised many. As a retired general and immediate past Prime Minister under the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) government, his appointment was met with scepticism that the new administration would take on the necessary reforms. The appointment of several technocrats as deputy ministers (with implementation responsibilities) did not alleviate the scepticism either. There was further scepticism when Myanmar proposed to chair the ASEAN Summit in 2014, to resume the turn she gave up in 2006.

That scepticism is now giving way to cautious optimism. The series of measures oriented towards reform undertaken by a country which, as recent as twelve months ago, was the problem child of ASEAN, has given rise to new hope for Myanmar.³ Viewed in the context of the half-century of political and economic stagnation, the reform agenda and delivered promises appear particularly impressive. In the same context, expectations are high for the government to continue delivering.

The starting point for the first flickers of change can be counted from the release of Aung San Suu Kyi on 13 November 2010 and the subsequent laissez-faire attitude of the government with regard to her movements and the activities of the NLD, which then was technically an illegal association after its de-registration from the 2010 election process. The steps taken towards more media freedom, reinvigorating the economy, recognition of poverty as a priority, efforts to improve human rights, and the national political scene have all added to the aspirations for change.

The Press Finds its Voice

Thein Sein took up the necessity...