Elections in the Midst of a Humanitarian Crisis

An estimated 1.5 million victims of the May 3rd cyclone in Myanmar are being denied relief by the government, which has up till recently been denying any foreign in combating a catastrophe that the government clearly has no resources, or will, to resolve. The problem begins with recognition of the gravity of the situation; the UN is estimating that deaths could range from 64,000 to 220,000, while state-run Myanmar TV is claiming that approximately 28,500 individuals had died and that 33,400 were missing. And while countries and non-state organizations are offering aid, the government is barely letting any of the donations reach the victims of the storm.

While Myanmar is letting humanitarian aid trickle in, the government’s focuses are elsewhere—on a constitutional referendum that would allow the reigning government to lengthen its rule. But many Myanmar residents are saying that the military junta is using propaganda to coax its citizens to vote. Elections are primarily being held in non-affected areas of Myanmar, and refugees from the storm are even being evacuated from shelter areas such as schools in order to use them as polling places.

So what exactly does this important referendum entail? Although it stipulates that it would allow for mulitparty elections and civilian-led government, the military would gain 25 percent of the parliamentary seats, control of vital governmental ministries and the ability to seize control in case of “emergency” situations…such as a massive storm claiming the lives of thousands of its citizens? Hopefully so.