Victory for Mynamar’s Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party holds the hope of a new beginning for a nation that was choked for years under repressive military rule.
Victory for Mynamar’s Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party holds the hope of a new beginning for a nation that was choked for years under repressive military rule. But tribulations lie ahead for the country’s first civilian-led government in generations.
key challenges
Myanmar has not experienced a democratic transfer of power since the 1960s so the country is sailing into uncharted waters in modern times. Burned into public memory is the bitter disappointment of the 1990 elections, which were won overwhelmingly by the NLD only to be ignored by the military, who clung to power for another two decades. Ms Suu Kyi's supporters are not taking a smooth transition for granted and expect a torrid period of political horse-trading.
Who will lead
Ms Suu Kyi is a monumental figure in Myanmar’s democracy movement. Her years of house arrest and courageous stand against oppression have made her an international symbol of peaceful struggle for freedom. For millions of Myanmar voters who flocked to the polls on Sunday she would be a natural choice for President. But she is barred from the post by the Constitution. To circumvent this Ms Suu Kyi has said she will rule “above the President”, a legally uncertain position that she has not fleshed out in detail.
Managing the military One of the most important aspects of this transition is easing the nerves of a still enormously powerful military. As the daughter of the Army’s founding father and independence hero General Aung San, Ms Suu Kyi has repeatedly said that she is very fond of the military. She has made it very clear that she wants to slowly prize the Army away from politics.
Fixing a broken economy
Getting down to the business of government is crucial in a nation burdened with deep poverty after years of neglect under the Army. International investors are clamouring to get a slice of Asia’s next emerging market, with its 51 million potential customers. But industrialisation needs roads, rail and functioning electricity.
Taming ethnic rebellions
Conflict has tormented Myanmar’s ethnic minority borderlands for more than half-a-century. A much vaunted peace process under Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian rule has made some progress, signing up a clutch of armed groups to a broad ceasefire seen as a stepping stone to political dialogue.
