At "democracy school" in Myanmar,
military and civilians learn how to lead
By Sara Perria, The Guardian, adapted by Newsela staff on 03.15.16
Word Count 901
In this Feb. 1, 2016, photo, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, center, walks along with other lawmakers of
her National League for Democracy party as they leave after a regular session of the lower house of parliament in
Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Photo: AP/Aung Shine Oo
It is an undeniably odd sight: a member of Myanmar’s military sitting in uniform, taking
notes on the basics of democracy. He is sitting next to former political prisoners and
human rights activists who now hold a majority in the country’s first credible parliament.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the nation's most outspoken human rights defender, won a general
election last year, making her the de facto head of government. But her team of new
legislators is in need of a class in how to run the country. Many of them were locked up for
years by the junta, or the military that once had an oppressive dictatorship.
The army ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, by brute force for half a century. It retains
25 percent of seats in parliament under a 2008 constitution it drafted, and its unelected
representatives think they could use a lesson, too.
Former Enemies Together In U.N. Class
The former enemies sat down last week at desks in parliament to attend a United Nationsled intensive course on how to carry out the job of being an MP, or member of parliament,
in a modern democracy.
On the table were topics such as separation of powers, checks and balances, and ethics.
“It is very useful,” a military MP said.
Workshops also focused on presentation skills, “essential characteristics of an effective
MP,” working with the media and “how much influence or control one power can exert on
the other."
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has led the pro-democracy movement since 1988, has taken a
logical approach to politics and it paid off. Her National League for Democracy (NLD)
holds a majority in parliament. While she is banned from the presidency by the
constitution, she can handpick her candidate.
Army Automatically Has 25 Percent Of Seats
In 2011 the Tatmadaw (armed forces) ceded power to a semi-civilian government that
initiated sweeping economic and political reforms. The November elections were widely
credited as transparent and reasonable by international observers, although they
condemned the army’s automatic holding of 25 percent of parliamentary seats.
The NLD lawmakers repeatedly brought up the issue at democracy school, asking how
Myanmar can be considered a democracy if not all seats are elected.
“Isn’t it unusual to have the military sitting in parliament?” asked an NLD minister.
The international “teachers” responded diplomatically. “It is not unusual in the region:
Malaysia had the military. I am not saying that this is the model, but it’s one I am familiar
with,” former Australian MP Janelle Saffin said.
Longtime Prisoner Now In Power
Aung San Suu Kyi spoke at the opening of the course. “This program will train us. And
although this is a young parliament, I would like to see a parliament that is respected by
the world,” said the NLD leader, who spent 15 years under house arrest before witnessing
the end of the dictatorship.
MPs from Hong Kong, South Korea, Britain, Australia, Pakistan, Malaysia, New Zealand
and Bhutan came to assist their Burmese associates. They were invited by the United
Nations development program, the Myanmar parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
“The new MPs are concerned. They are very motivated, but they don’t know how their role
as representative in parliament really works,” said Hong Kong MP Paul Ise.
“The military is participating well, especially as it is not easy for them to concede power,”
he added.
Communication Obstacles Remain
Indeed, officials of the Tatmadaw engaged at the afternoon roundtables with their NLD
associates and MPs from smaller ethnic parties. As they sat around a large sheet of paper
spread out across the table for them to write down ideas, a military politician proposed
making certain subcommittees to help parliament function more smoothly.
“The level of enthusiasm is not something you would normally see in our countries. They
are eager to learn and they listen. There is a ‘back to basics’ feeling,” said Jasmine Lee,
an MP in the South Korean parliament. “But it will be a generational change; it will have to
happen in small steps.”
Despite visible signs of a democracy in the making, newly elected U Ar Moe Si highlights
some obstacles to the change. “I have walked for days through snow and ice just to get to
the first airport from my village in Northern Kachin,” he says, wearing a traditional
waistcoat and hat over his Western clothes.
“Then I had to take two flights and, once in Mandalay, I jumped on a bus to come to the
capital. This course is useful, but when the international MPs say that we should use
Internet and social networks to engage with our voters, I can’t really do that because there
is no Internet where I come from. Some of my people died without having ever seen a car.”
Parliament Building Has No Offices Yet
There are problems at the parliament building, too, MPs said. The vast chambers and
corridors have no functional space, having been conceived as a celebratory space that
reflects the different stages of Buddhist cosmology.
“There’s no working space here,” Daw Sharmu said, echoing the complaint of many of her
co-workers.
A library and a learning center were recently set up with international help. And now the
parliament building is occasionally open to guided tours. There is even a souvenir shop.
A mug with "I Love Hluttaw" – as the two-chamber government is called – is among the
highlights of the post-dictatorship period.
Quiz
1
Read the statement below.
Classes in democracy are less important than practical changes that help people
Which of the following people quoted in the article would MOST likely agree with the
statement?
2
3
(A)
Janelle Saffin, a former member of the Australian parliament
(B)
Paul Ise, a member of the parliament in Hong Kong
(C)
Jasmine Lee, a member of the South Korean parliament
(D)
U Ar Moe Si, an elected official from Northern Kachin in Myanmar
Based on the article, why are members of Myanmar's military attending the same school as
human rights activists?
(A)
They want to learn how to take back power from the activists.
(B)
They are interested in learning the fundamentals of democracy.
(C)
They are following an order issued by the activists.
(D)
They want to acquire more representation in parliament.
Read the sentence below from the third paragraph of the article.
The army ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, by brute force for half
a century.
How the word "brute" affect the meaning of the sentence?
(A)
It suggests that it was ridiculous for the army to use force in Myanmar.
(B)
It suggests that it was natural for the army to use force in Myanmar.
(C)
It indicates that the Myanmar army ruled over both people and animals
when it was in power.
(D)
It conveys the idea that the Myanmar army operated in a savage way.
4
Read the sentence below from the section "Army Automatically Has 25 Percent of Seats".
The November elections were widely credited as transparent and
reasonable by international observers, although they condemned the
army’s automatic holding of 25 percent of parliamentary seats.
In the sentence, the word "condemned" connotes
(A)
strong anger
(B)
reluctant acceptance
(C)
partial understanding
(D)
total puzzlement
Answer Key
1
Read the statement below.
Classes in democracy are less important than practical changes that help people
Which of the following people quoted in the article would MOST likely agree with the
statement?
2
3
(A)
Janelle Saffin, a former member of the Australian parliament
(B)
Paul Ise, a member of the parliament in Hong Kong
(C)
Jasmine Lee, a member of the South Korean parliament
(D)
U Ar Moe Si, an elected official from Northern Kachin in Myanmar
Based on the article, why are members of Myanmar's military attending the same school as
human rights activists?
(A)
They want to learn how to take back power from the activists.
(B)
They are interested in learning the fundamentals of democracy.
(C)
They are following an order issued by the activists.
(D)
They want to acquire more representation in parliament.
Read the sentence below from the third paragraph of the article.
The army ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, by brute force for half
a century.
How the word "brute" affect the meaning of the sentence?
(A)
It suggests that it was ridiculous for the army to use force in Myanmar.
(B)
It suggests that it was natural for the army to use force in Myanmar.
(C)
It indicates that the Myanmar army ruled over both people and animals
when it was in power.
(D)
It conveys the idea that the Myanmar army operated in a savage way.
4
Read the sentence below from the section "Army Automatically Has 25 Percent of Seats".
The November elections were widely credited as transparent and
reasonable by international observers, although they condemned the
army’s automatic holding of 25 percent of parliamentary seats.
In the sentence, the word "condemned" connotes
(A)
strong anger
(B)
reluctant acceptance
(C)
partial understanding
(D)
total puzzlement