20110213 Junta calls for protection of democracy

Junta calls for protection of democracy

UNION DAY:Myanmar’s leaders held a lavish national day celebration, shrugging off criticism that its self-described transition to democracy is just a charade

AP, NAYPYITAW

The leader of Myanmar’s junta yesterday warned against any “disruption” of the new military-dominated government, urging people to protect what he called the country’s nascent “democracy system” a day after a Cabinet was approved.

Senior General Than Shwe issued the call as the regime held a lavish national celebration at the isolated capital that will serve as headquarters for the new civilian government.

Than Shwe called for people to “tackle any forms of disruptions to the new system” in a Union Day address delivered by newly appointed Myanmar Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo.

“The democracy system introduced to the Union of Myanmar is still in its infancy,” the message said.

“Therefore, it is required of the entire national people to safeguard and build together the newly introduced democracy system, which has been adopted with the combined efforts of the government, the people and the Tatmadaw [army],” it said.

After decades of repressive military rule, critics say that Myanmar’s self-described transition to democracy is a charade and that last year’s election was orchestrated to perpetuate military rule. With one-quarter of the seats in the new parliament filled by military appointees and a lion’s share of the remaining seats won by a military-backed party, the army effectively retains power.

The future role of the junta — officially known as the State Peace and Development Council — remains unclear, though it is certain that the military will continue to be the dominant force in government.

The new parliament on Friday unanimously approved all of Myanmar president-elect Thein Sein’s Cabinet nominees, although they were not told which post each would take.

Thein Sein, who was elected by parliament last week, was prime minister and a top member of the military junta that is handing over power to the new government. It is not clear when he and his Cabinet will be sworn in.

Most of the Cabinet appointees are former military officers who retired in order to run in November’s elections — the country’s first in 20 years — and about a dozen were ministers in the junta’s Cabinet. Only four of the appointees are strictly civilian.

Than Shwe’s speech was read out in an open space at the City Hall in Naypyitaw to celebrate Union Day, which marks the anniversary of a 1947 agreement among the country’s ethnic groups that paved the way to independence from Britain. The ceremony was attended by lawmakers and new and old Cabinet members.

In further celebration, the government opened a “Safari Park” in Naypyitaw yesterday morning.

The park, on nearly 120 hectares along the Yangon-Mandalay highway, holds animals from Asia, Australia and Africa, some of them brought to Myanmar on chartered flights.