Democracy
MPs from Southeast Asia condemn Myanmar junta’s parties registration law as an assault on democracy
Parliamentarians from Southeast Asia have condemned the new Political Parties Registration Law passed by the Myanmar military junta as an assault on democracy, drafted by an illegitimate authority, and designed to favor its proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), ahead of the sham elections planned for this year.
The new law, passed on 26 January, imposes a series of criteria to register parties that are extremely difficult to meet for most of the 91 political organizations currently registered in Myanmar, except for the USDP.
For instance, according to Article 5(f), national parties are under the obligation to mobilize at least 100,000 members, 100 times more than the previous law, in 90 days, an impossibility given the instability and chaos that general Min Aung Hlaing threw the country into with the illegal coup he staged two years ago.
Now parties have two months to register under these draconian conditions, or they will be dissolved and declared illegal.
The National League for Democracy (NLD), the party in government at the time of the takeover in February 2021, has announced its refusal to recognize the new law and the election commission.
But other parties may face dissolution if the junta determines they have contacted a “terrorist organization,” including the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs), set up to fight against the junta, or the National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG).
Read more: UN chief backs democracy for Myanmar 2 years after coup
“This law goes against all democratic principles not only because of its contents, specifically designed to make the military proxy USDP the only viable political party, but also because who has passed it. The junta led by Min Aung Hlaing has no legitimacy whatsoever to rule the country after an illegal coup d’état and two years of continuous atrocities against its own population, let alone to enact any law. The international community, starting with ASEAN, should condemn this new law in the strongest possible terms,” said Charles Santiago, Co-chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), and former Member of Parliament in Malaysia on Tuesday.
The new law has been passed ahead of the general election planned by the junta this year.
According to the 2008 Myanmar Constitution, the state of emergency that was put in place by the junta after its coup on 1 February can only last two years, after which the government has the obligation to hold new elections.
Over this period, Min Aung Hlaing and his generals have unsuccessfully attempted to consolidate its power in the face of widespread popular resistance to military rule.
The junta is perpetrating crimes against humanity against its own people on a daily basis, including extrajudicial killings, indiscriminate aerial attacks against entire villages, arbitrary detentions and torture, often to death, of anyone deemed to be working with the opposition.
According to the local organization Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), there are 13,689 political prisoners in the country, and the junta has killed at least 2,894 people, with the real numbers likely several times higher.
Read more: Myanmar's military regime must end its violence, release those unjustly detained: US
This all-out war waged by the junta against its own people has displaced hundreds of thousands, and ruined the Myanmar economy, creating a humanitarian catastrophe of gigantic proportions.
“In the terrible conditions currently prevailing in Myanmar, it is completely impossible to hold an election, especially if it is organized by the very same junta that created such conditions in the first place. This election is nothing but a desperate attempt by Min Aung Hlaing to legitimize his power, and will only result in even further bloodshed. The Myanmar people are not fooled by the junta’s electoral charade, and the international community should not be fooled either. It is imperative that international actors refuse to recognize the elections, and Min Aung Hlaing’s junta itself, and begin to seriously engage the democratic opposition in seeking the solution to the crisis in Myanmar,” said Santiago.
Constitution’s 15th amendment stopped illegal grabbing of power: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the 15th amendment to the constitution has strengthened the country’s democracy and empowered the people to decide who will go to power by stopping the path of unlawful capture of the state power. “Stability has been prevailing in the country since the 15th amendment to the constitution leading to the long continued democratic process. So, nowadays no unelected person can capture state power illegally,” she said.
Read more: Let’s stand firm by Palestinians: PM Hasina urges Muslim Ummah
The premier was addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected mayor and councillors of Rangpur City Corporation at her office here in the city.
The 15th amendment, passed by the parliament on June 30, 2011, made some significant changes to the constitution including the one that ended the illegal take-over of power.
She said the apex court had declared illegal the seizure of state power by issuing martial law after violating the country's constitution and this has ensured the voting and democratic rights of the people of the country.
“We have strengthened the country's democracy by bringing (15th) amendment to the constitution following the declaration (the apex court verdict). This democracy is meant to reinforce the power of people and empower them to decide who will or won’t go to power,” said Hasina.
But, the empowerment of the people has become a matter of heart-burning for a section of so-called intellectuals as they never come to power through the people’s votes, she said, adding that they have been trying to disturb the democratic process time and again.
Read more: ‘Bangladesh couldn’t have achieved this level of development without continued democratic trends’
“They, who are never to be elected by people’s vote and fear to face the masses, have inner burning due to this reason, “she added.
The PM reminded all that the Awami League government was the only one in the history of Bangladesh, which handed over the power peacefully on the completion of its 1999-2001 tenure.
She, however, mentioned that the transparent ballot box and preparing electoral rolls with photographs had been introduced in accordance with the proposal of the Awami League-led grand alliance to hold elections in free and fair manners.
Hasina said the Election Commission has been constituted through a search committee as per a new law enacted by her government that has made it more transparent and accountable. The government has given the commission full financial independence so that it can hold a free and fair election.
The PM administered the oath to new RCC mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, who was elected as a Jatiya Party candidate.
Read more: AL won’t run away, rather will continue developing Bangladesh: PM in Rajshahi
Besides, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam administered the councillors including those who got elected from the reserve seats.
State Minister for the LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee was present on the dais while, Local Government division secretary Muhammad Ibrahim moderated the function.
Jatiya Party candidate Mostafa won the mayoral race for the second consecutive term in the Rangpur City Corporation elections held on 27 December last.
Zia’s birth anniversary: BNP vows to make movement ‘to restore democracy’ a success
BNP has vowed to make the ongoing anti-government movement for ‘restoring democracy’ a success on the 87th birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman.
BNP leaders and activists took the oath after placing wreaths at the grave of former president and the party founder Ziaur Rahman on his 87th birth anniversary at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city on Thursday.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the people of the country have woken up to thwart the plot of Awami League to reestablish one-party rule.
Read more: Zia’s 87th birth anniversary Thursday
“The entire nation has plunged into darkness. It has woken up to restore democracy and thwart conspiracy of Awami League to reestablish one-party rule,” he said while talking to reporters.
“We hope that we’ll be able to organise people with a new pledge and win the movement of restoring democracy, protecting the multi-party democracy, protecting Bangladesh and saving independence and sovereignty of the country,” he said.
The Liberation War started not only with the proclamation of independence by Ziaur Rahman, he also led the war against from the front side and after nine months the country became independent, said Fakhrul.
“Ziaur Rahman within a short span of time united the divided nation and brought us from the darkness of one-party rule to the light of multi-party democracy,” he said.
Read more: Zia's 87th birth anniversary: BNP chalks out elaborate programmes
Earlier, around 11 am, BNP leaders including its senior leaders Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moin Khan, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, led by Mirza Fakhrul placed the wreaths at the grave of Zia and offered Munajat.
Later, Fakhrul also inaugurated a free medical camp and a blood donation programme at BNP’s Nayapaltan Central office at noon.
BNP also published posters of Ziaur Rahman on the day. They also kept the national flag at half-mast.
Left Democratic Alliance's protest march followed by rally in Barisal
The Left Democratic Alliance's Barisal district committee held a protest march and rally today calling for the overthrow of the government, establishment of democracy, right to vote, an end to gas and electricity price hikes, and lower pricing of daily essentials.
Alliance leaders who spoke at the rally said that the current Awami League regime has strengthened their party's looters in the name of development.
“They made their second abode in Canada, known as Begum Para. This government has increased the price of electricity 11 times in the last 14 years. They will not be saved, no matter how much this illegitimate government talks about development,” said the speakers.
Also Read: Revoke power price hike or face street protests: BNP to govt
The district coordinator of the Left Democratic Alliance, Professor Dulal Chandra Majumdar presided while the district president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Professor Mizanur Rahman, the district general secretary of the Revolutionary Communist League, Professor Nripendra Nath Barai, and the district member secretary of BASAD, Dr. Manisha Chakraborty, spoke among others.
The program was held at 11am on Saturday in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city.
A protest march was held in the city following the rally.
Brazil cracks down post-riot and vows to protect democracy
Brazilian authorities vowed Monday to protect democracy and punish thousands of supporters of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro who stormed and trashed the nation’s highest seats of power in chaos with striking similarities to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
The protesters swarmed into Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential palace on Sunday. Many have said they want the Brazilian army to restore the far-right Bolsonaro to power and oust the newly inaugurated leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Read more: Brazil election body rejects Bolsonaro's push to void votes
Police broke down a pro-Bolsonaro encampment outside a military building Monday and detained some 1,200 people there, the justice ministry’s press office told The Associated Press.
Lula and the heads of the Supreme Court, Senate and Lower House also signed a letter Monday denouncing acts of terrorism and vandalism and saying they were taking legal measures.
Justice Minister Flávio Dino told reporters police have begun tracking those who paid for the buses that transported protesters to the capital. At the news conference late Sunday, Brazil’s minister of institutional relations said the buildings would be inspected for evidence including fingerprints and images to hold people to account, and that the rioters apparently intended to spark similar uprest nationwide.
“They will not succeed in destroying Brazilian democracy. We need to say that fully, with all firmness and conviction,” Dino said. “We will not accept the path of criminality to carry out political fights in Brazil. A criminal is treated like a criminal.”
Rioters donning the green and yellow of the national flag on Sunday broke windows, toppled furniture, hurled computers and printers to the ground. They punctured a massive Emiliano Di Cavalcanti painting at the presidential palace in seven places and completely destroyed other works of art. They overturned the U-shaped table at which Supreme Court justices convene, ripped a door off one justice's office and vandalized an iconic statue outside the court. The monumental buildings' interiors were left in states of ruin.
Monday's arrests came in addition to the 300 held Sunday while caught in the act.
But police were noticeably slow to react - even after the arrival of more than 100 buses - leading many to ponder whether authorities had either simply ignored numerous warnings, underestimated the protesters' strength, or been somehow complicit.
Public prosecutors in the capital said local security forces had at very least been negligent. A supreme court justice temporarily suspended the regional governor. Another justice blamed authorities for not swiftly cracking down on budding neofascism in Brazil.
After his Oct. 30 electoral defeat, Bolsonaro, who has gone to Florida, has been stoking belief among his hardcore supporters that the electronic voting system was prone to fraud — though he never presented any evidence. His lawmaker son Eduardo Bolsonaro held several meetings with former U.S. President Donald Trump, Trump's longtime ally Steve Bannon and his senior campaign adviser, Jason Miller.
Results from Brazil's election — the closest in over three decades — were quickly recognized by politicians across the spectrum, including some Bolsonaro allies, as well as dozens of governments. And Bolsonaro surprised nearly everyone by promptly fading from view. He neither conceded defeat nor emphatically cried fraud, though he and his party submitted a request to nullify millions of votes that was swiftly dismissed.
Brazilians have used electronic voting since 1996 that security experts consider less secure than hand-marked paper ballots because they leave no auditable paper trail. Brazil’s system is, however, closely scrutinized and domestic authorities and international observers have never found evidence of it being exploited to commit fraud.
Still, Bolsonaro's supporters refused to accept the results. They blocked roads and have remained camped outside military buildings, urging the armed forces to intervene. Dino, the justice minister, referred to the encampments as incubators of terrorism. Protests were overwhelmingly peaceful, but isolated threats — including a bomb found on a fuel truck headed to Brasilia’s airport — prompted security concerns.
Two days before Lula's Jan. 1 inauguration, Bolsonaro flew to the U.S. and took up temporary residence in Orlando. Many Brazilians expressed relief that, while he declined to participate in the transition of power, his absence allowed it to occur without incident.
Or so it had been, until Sunday's havoc.
“Bolsonarism mimics the same strategies as Trumpism. Our Jan. 8 — an unprecedented manifestation in Brazilian politics — is clearly copied from Jan. 6 in the Capitol,” said Paulo Calmon, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia. “Today’s sad episodes represent yet another attempt to destabilize democracy and demonstrate that the authoritarian, populist radicalism of Brazil's extreme right remains active under the command of former President Bolsonaro, the ‘Trump of Latin America.'”
U.S. President Joe Biden, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jointly said Monday that “Canada, Mexico, and the United States condemn the January 8 attacks on Brazil’s democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power. We stand with Brazil as it safeguards its democratic institutions.”
Analysts told the AP that the upheaval could yield greater political support for Lula and his stated mission to pacify the polarized country, with many right-wing citizens and politicians repulsed by Sunday's scenes and eager to distance themselves from far-right radicalism. The leader of Bolsonaro's own party called the uprising “an embarrassment.”
Read more: Brazil election: Lula defeats Bolsonaro to become president again
“This may have been the beginning of the end. The political system will want to isolate that radical movement and move away from it,” said Mario Sérgio Lima, political analyst at Medley Advisors. “I think what we will see now is the right trying to create new alternatives and new leaders, and the center distancing itself.”
In a news conference from Sao Paulo state, Lula read a freshly signed decree for the federal government to assume control of security in the federal district. He said that the so-called “fascist fanatics,” as well as those who financed their activities, must be punished, and also accused Bolsonaro of encouraging their uprising.
Bolsonaro repudiated the president's accusation late Sunday. Writing on Twitter, he said peaceful protest is part of democracy, but vandalism and invasion of public buildings are “exceptions to the rule.”
Unlike the 2021 attack in the U.S., few officials would have been working in the top government buildings on a Sunday. And videos showed limited presence of the capital’s military police.
One video showed a group of protesters easily pushing through a police barricade, with only a few officers using pepper spray. Another showed officers standing by as protesters stormed the Congress, including one using his phone to record what was happening.
“This was a gross error by the federal district's government. It was a tragedy foretold,” said Thiago de Aragão, director of strategy at Brasilia-based politican consultancy Arko Advice. “Everyone knew they (the protesters) were coming to Brasilia. The expectation was that the federal district's government was going to mount a response to protect the capital. They didn't do any of that."
Lula said at his news conference there was “incompetence or bad faith" on the part of police, and he promised some would be punished.
Federal District Gov. Ibaneis Rocha confirmed on Twitter he had fired the capital city’s head of public security, Anderson Torres — hours before a Supreme Court justice suspended the governor from office, alleging “intentional omission.”
“Two years since Jan. 6, Trump’s legacy continues to poison our hemisphere,” U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, who chairs the Senate’s foreign relations committee, tweeted, adding that he blamed Bolsonaro for inciting the acts. “Protecting democracy & holding malign actors to account is essential.”
Despite its 1971 role, spokesperson says Jamaat ‘committed to democracy’ since formation
Despite its widely documented role as collaborating with the Pakistani occupation forces in committing genocide during the Liberation War in 1971, a spokesperson of Jamaat-e-Islami has claimed that the party, since its formation, is “committed to democracy’.
Abu Bakar Molla, EU and UK spokesperson of Jamaat, was speaking on a TRT World current affairs programme, “The Newsmakers”, on December 21, 2022.
Jamaat-e-Islami actively opposed the creation of Bangladesh and helped Pakistani forces carry out genocide and crimes against humanity during the nine months of the Liberation War.
Read more: PM Hasina wonders how leftists could join hands with BNP and Jamaat
In its verdict against Ghulam Azam, the Jamaat ameer in 1971, the International Crimes Tribunal noted that Jamaat-e-Islami – under Ghulam Azam’s leadership – operated as a “criminal organisation” during the Liberation War.
Without naming any specific human rights organization, the Jamaat spokesperson said, “What about the international human rights community are saying… they are independent, they are neutral… international human rights community has given statements, saying that human rights are grossly violated in Bangladesh.”
Incidentally, Jamaat-e-Islami recently claimed that Indian forces were “behind the killings of intellectuals” at the end of the Liberation War. A claim The Daily Star reported as “yet another blatant attempt to distort history.”
During a virtual discussion on the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals Day, Jamaat leaders claimed that Bengali intellectuals were killed so that the country “could not stand without the support of a neighbouring country.”
Read more: Jamaat, which was behind killings of intellectuals in 1971, BNP's main associate: Info Minister
On the TRT World program, Abu Bakar spoke about supporting Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in its call for restoring the caretaker government system and demand for resignation of the current government.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, standing committee member of BNP, reiterated his party’s call for national election only under a caretaker government.
Also on the show, Barrister Shah Ali Farhad, former special assistant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, “The (recent) protests are actually purely political party rallies of BNP. No evidence to suggest that they have any mass involvement. While rising costs of living are impacting citizens’ lives, they are well informed as to the global reasons behind the rise. Their confidence is on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to deliver results, as she has delivered over the last one decade… The government respects the freedoms of assembly and speech of BNP and their allies as long as no public security risk is involved. The fact that BNP organised rallies in all divisional cities is evidence of the government’s cooperation in this regard.”
Vested quarters out to destroy democracy: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said vested quarters are out there to destroy the country’s democracy only for their personal gains.
“They (vested quarters) are repeatedly claiming that there is no democracy in the country, those who are saying this get some attention during emergency and military regimes, they are trying to destroy the country’s democratic system for their personal gains,” she said.
The PM made the remarks while delivering her introductory speech at the AL National Committee, comprising of presidents and secretaries of 78 organising districts and central AL committee members, at her official residence Ganabhaban.
Read more: Don’t trust people who mislead, spread rumours: PM
She claimed that there is no one who could uphold the democratic rights of the people except AL.
“Let me ask them, where is the dearth of democracy,” she said.
Hasina, also the ruling AL chief, said that these vested quarters think that vote rigging, terrorism and militancy, which were very much normal during BNP-Jamaat regime, are the synonyms of democracy.
“I believe that the power of the people is the biggest strength; trust and confidence of the people are the biggest strength,” she said.
She said that as AL has been in power for 14 years and democratic process continues in the country Bangladesh has achieved tremendous development and is acclaimed as a role model of development in the world.
“I do not know those who are searching for democracy must be using binoculars in their eyes, let me ask them one question, where was the democracy in the country except three and half years of the Father of the Nation and other years under AL regime,” she asked.
She mentioned that all powers were kept prisoned in the cantonment during the regimes of Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad and Khaleda Zia.
“The country was ruled from cantonment, then where was the democracy or the power of the people,” she questioned.
The Prime Minister said that the country has been able to advance massively as the government is running it with the spirit of the Liberation War.
“Bangladesh, which was indulged in terrorism, famine, corruption, and a country of mischief, that country is now turned into the country of democracy and development,” she said.
She mentioned that the AL government has been able to bring these massive changes as it is in power for 14 years continuously.
“People of the country get positive changes whenever AL comes to power,” she said.
Hasina said that her party always believes in justice.
“Zia had established the culture of lawlessness in the country, we got rid of that and established the culture of justice,” she said.
BNP MPs resigned to impede democracy: Hasan Mahmud
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that the Members of Parliament (MPs) of BNP have resigned with an intention to thwart the democratic system of the country.
The Minister said this while exchanging views with journalists at the conference room of his ministry at the Secretariat on Sunday.
Read more: 5 BNP MPs submit resignation to JS Speaker
“At their rallies, BNP have been continuously asking the government to resign. But now their own MPs have quit. This shows how undemocratic the BNP politicians are. The government or parliament won’t be affected by these resignations,” Hasan said.
Asked about BNP’s rally at Golapbagh, the Minister said that it was nothing compared to political programmes held by the ruling Awami League (AL).
“BNP had said that at least one million people will attend their Dhaka rally. In reality, only 50,000 came. More people attend our small-scale, local political programmes than what BNP was able to manage. By rejecting bigger venues proposed by the government, BNP proved that they don’t believe in their capacity to attract people to their events,” Hasan said.
The Minister added that BNP’s 10-point demand is another plot to create anarchy in the country.
Read more: 5 BNP MPs submit resignation to JS Speaker
“BNP couldn’t come out from their habit of creating terror. BNP’s 10 demands are nothing new, they’re making these demands for a long time. Law enforcement agencies and our party members are ready to thwart any sabotage plan by them,” Hasan added.
Democracy is refined by practicing it, not by prescription from diplomats: Nowfel
Criticising the diplomats stationed in Dhaka, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel on Wednesday said no election or electoral process is perfect.
Democracy is refined by practicing it, not by prescription from diplomats, he said apparently reacting to a joint statement issued by foreign missions yesterday.
Read more: Ex-Ducsu VP Nur sued for making ‘derogatory comments’ about deputy minister Nowfel
"Do foreign missions anywhere in this region or nearby comment on host country's internal electoral politics as they do in Bangladesh?" he tweeted mentioning that "partners not masters!"
Shaheed Dr Milon Day today
Shaheed Dr Milon Day is being observed across the country onSunday, commemorating the 32nd martyrdom anniversary of Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon who was killed during the 90s’ anti-autocratic movement.
Different socio-cultural and political organisations as well as professional bodies have chalked out various programmes to observe the day with due respect.
The day's programmes include placing wreaths at the grave of Shaheed Dr Milon on the Dhaka Medical College campus, offering 'fateha' there and holding discussions to mark the day.
On this day in 1990, Dr Milon, the then joint secretary general of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) and a teacher of Dhaka Medical College, was shot dead by gunmen near TSC on the Dhaka University campus on his way to a meeting against then autocratic ruler HM Ershad.
Read more: Shaheed Dr Milon Day on Friday
The movement got momentum following the martyrdom of Dr Milon and autocratic ruler Ershad had to quit power finally in the face of a vigorous mass movement.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, paid homage to Shaheed Dr Milon, recalling his supreme sacrifice for the restoration of democracy in the country.
In his message, the President expected that being imbued with the ideology of Dr Milon the new generation will engage themselves in the democratic practices.
"Democracy and development are complementary to each other. The advancement of democracy must also be accelerated to ensure sustainable development,"he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, the anti-autocracy movement got new speed through the supreme sacrifice of Dr Milon.
Read more: Shaheed Dr Milon Day on Saturday
"Emergency was declared on the day, but denying the emergency and curfew, students and mass people brought out processions on the streets several times. Later, the autocratic ruler was forced to quit and democracy was restored," she added.