Burma: A Violent Past to a Brutal Future

The Transformation of a Paramilitary Organization into a Political Party

"USDP will win for sure. It's going to be worse if they take power because thugs and gangsters will misuse power to ruin the country. This is why I’m not going to vote… They have the winning cards in their hands. The result has been arranged. Why should we bother to play this game?”

-Ye Htut, News Vendor, Rangoon.

USDA Leadership

The Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) was formed by the regime in 1993.

It is patroned and led entirely by SLORC/SPDC and military officials

USDA leadership (1997)

USDA Causes/Objectives

All USDA members must pledge to “endeavor for Our Three Main National Causes,” which are identical to SLORC’s “three main tasks”. preventing disintegration of the Union, preventing

disintegration of national solidarity and that of ensuring perpetuity of the sovereignty of the State.”

The USDA also adopted the SLORC’s ‘Four-Point People’s Desire.’ This ‘People’s Desire’ Oppose those relying on external elements, acting

as stooges or holding negative views; oppose those trying to jeopardize the stability of the State and progress of the nation; oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the State; and crush all internal and external destructive elements as the common enemy.

USDA Causes/Objectives

As the USDA Secretary General U Than Aung noted: “The ruling SLORC, the government and the USDA share the same objective.” The USDA is not

simply a regime-backed “social welfare” organization, it is an extension of the regime.

First Phase: 1993 - 1998

In January 1994, the USDA organized 26 mass rallies that were attended by approximately 4 million people.

The USDA ensured mass participation through harassment, blackmail, and violence

In 1996, USDA CEC member Win Sein told a crowd: “We must get rid of Aung San Suu Kyi who is creating political unrest. Do you understand what it means to ‘get rid of ’? It means we have to kill her. Have you got the guts to kill her?”

Several attacks on NLD in 1996

Mass Rallies Attacks on NLD

Second Phase: 1998 – 2008

In this phase, the USDA expanded its activities to include attacks on the wider society, corruption, and diplomatic visits. It continued mass rallies and attacks on NLD

Violent attacks on: the NLD social organizations students Muslim communities Buddhist prayer sessions

Particularly violent assaults: Depayin Massacre Crackdown on Saffron Revolution

Depayin Massacre: the perpetrators

Eyewitnesses note that perpetrators appeared heavily intoxicated; the USDA paid participants in alcohol and money to show up, harass and attack the NLD.

Depayin Massacre: the outcome The attack lasted for more than three hours and

claimed between 100 and 282 lives. During the massacre and in the weeks that followed,

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and an estimated 256 NLD members and other democracy activists were arrested and detained

Three leading USDA officials responsible for orchestrating the massacre are currently campaigning as USDP candidates in the 2010 elections:

Former Lt-Col Aung Thaung, Minister of Information Kyaw Hsan Minister of Hotels and Tourism Soe Naing.

Early Signs of a Transition

As early as 2002, the USDA had already publicized its intentions to serve as a political party.

It also began to take on roles and responsibilities typically reserved for government officials

In 2004, General Secretary of the USDA Htay Oo led a USDA delegation to China

They met with the Vice Minister of International Department of the Central Committee of Community Party of China (CPC), amongst other Chinese officials.

2008 Referendum fraudResponse to NargisFormation of USDPUSDP election violations

Third Phase: 2008 - Now

2008 referendum

The 2008 constitutional referendum was marked by extensive fraud and violations

During this time, the USDA was involved in: Corruption and Vote Buying Intimidation and Harassment Involvement in monitoring polls

All of these methods have resurfaced in the 2010 elections

The results: 90% turnout, 92% approval Questionable, especially in light of Nargis

devastation

Formation of the USDP

Formed on 29 April 2010, led by Prime Minister Thein Sein and 26 other SPDC ministers

The party has taken on USDA’s membership, policies, financial resources, and moreover, its formidable physical clout

Leading USDP member Myint Oo informed a visiting Australian official that USDP had sufficient funding as it had inherited funds from the USDA

USDP Election Violations

Carried out hundreds of violations across the country (conservative estimate)

Vote buying Intimidation and harassment

Use of criminals as policy Threats to voters Violent attacks on NLD Harassment of opposition political parties

Abuse of authority and state property Early membership recruitment

USDP Election Day Plans

Planning electoral fraud The Hospitality Sub-committee should set up “A

tent at every polling booth” It is also instructed to “influence the voters to

correctly vote for USDP candidates” Hold marches with flags

Going beyond mandate of a political party Monitoring sub-committee mandate goes well

beyond that of a political party sub-committee. The sub-committee will “closely monitor and

document activities of respective polling booth managers and other responsible personnel,” but will also monitor the “condition of voters” and “liaise with other committees to take action as necessary

USDP candidates

USDP candidates include prominent business tycoons, retired military generals such as Prime Minister Thein Sein, notorious drug dealers, shareholders in money laundering banks, and leading USDA officials responsible for the Depayin Massacre.

Moreover, USDP and other junta-allied party candidates make up 77% of total candidates in the elections

Compare candidates…

USDP candidates are contesting for 99% of the electoral seats. Coupled with the military, they could gain almost 100% control over the future parliament

NDF is contesting for 14% of the electoral seats. With 29% parliamentary seats reserved for the military, NDF can only, at BEST, gain 10% of total parliamentary seats

Future of Burma

The 2010 elections will put in place the 2008 Constitution: Military veto power: The constitution reserves 25% of

seats in the upper and lower houses of the parliament and 1/3 of the seats in the regional and state parliaments to the military: veto power over any constitutional amendments. Typical legislative acts require a majority vote. If SPDC-

allied parties win at least 1/3 of the electoral seats, the current SPDC and their supporters will dominate the parliament.

Impunity: The future government, as well as SLORC/SPDC, are immune from prosecution for acts “done in the execution of their respective duties”.

Ability to suspend human rights: key rights may also be limited for reasons of “security, prevalence of law and order, community peace and tranquility or public order and morality”.

In 2008, [USDA] told us they would issue us national identification cards if we voted in support of the constitution, so we did. But after voting, they revoked our id cards. We were cheated then, why would we let ourselves be cheated again?

– a migrant worker, Pegu Division

No more ‘Wait and See’