Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Towards the 2015 elections
After half a century of despotic rule, Myanmar appears to be finally headed for something
approaching normality. To what extent the reforms represent genuine change or are simply
window-dressing by the generals anxious to present a more acceptable face to the world re-
mains to be seen, however. Serious restrictions on the freedom of speech persist, large sec-
tions of the economy remain in
crony hands
,
while a corrupt legal system and army abuses -
particularly in ethnic-minority areas - continue to be reported. A clause in the new military-
sponsoredconstitutionof2008banningthosewithforeignnextofkinfromstandingforpres-
ident,specificallyaimedatAungSanSuuKyi,remainsinplace,castingashadowoverpolit-
ical reforms, while growing political tensions in
Rakhine State
,
Meiktila
and elsewhere have
been a conspicuous feature of the past few years. Even Aung San Suu Kyi herself has shown
worrying signs of cosying up to the generals and their business cronies, while her failure to
speak up for the persecuted Rohingya drew widespread condemnation in 2014.
Reformsnotwithstanding,Myanmar's
economy
remainsamongtheleastdevelopedinAsia,
with a per capita GDP of just $1700 (giving it a global rank of 201 out of 228 countries
worldwide), compared to a similar figure of $9900 in neighbouring Thailand. A third of all
Burmese still live below the poverty line, a situation made worse by raging inflation and
rampant population growth (over a quarter of the population are now aged under 14). A fifth
of all Burmese in rural areas have no reliable source of drinking water, and spending on
healthcare and education remains among the lowest in the world. At least, ona more positive
note, the national adult literacy rate is a respectable 93 percent.
Politically
, the local and international community continues to express cautious optimism
over the reforms so far enacted, although perhaps the real litmus test of the country's
fledgling democracy will come in the general elections scheduled for
2015
, in the army's
true willingness to give up its still considerable power, and in the ability, despite continuing
religious and ethnic clashes, of this profoundly diverse and multicultural country to survive
intact in the coming years.
