Column written by Tin Aung Win
My name is U Tin(Tin Aung Win), and I will turn 63 years in just a couple of days. I am living in North Tadaingshe Village, Patheingyi Township, Mandalay, Myanmar. On November 8, the people of my country were called to the ballot boxes to cast their votes for a new government, a truly historic moment.
In 1974 I remember the first time I went to vote, still under the constitution of the Socialist Republic of Burma, who ruled our country since 1962. The only choice I had then, was choosing between a white box (supporting the ruling government) or a black box (voting against them) to put my ballot in. I used the black one that day, and have done it ever since.
In 1990, after the government had been toppled due to protest from the people in 1988, we had the first free elections in almost 30 years. That day, the vast majority of the people of Myanmar chose for Aung San Suu Kyi to lead them. But our hopes died when the military moved in, nullified the election results, and turned against the people.
Seeing Aung San Suu Kyi’s committment to democracy and nonviolence, I see it as my duty to support her work, and I have worked non-stop the last three weeks for the election.
On November 8, I voted for her party, the NLD. I went to the polling station at 10 am to cast my vote. When I left, with my little finger stained with ink, I felt like I did my duty as a citizen of this country. But when in the afternoon my brother went as observer to the counting session, and was denied access by the officials, I started to worry. Power systems do not change overnight, and we have seen in the past how those in power do not give it up easily. My concerns grew when my son, who was part of the independent observers at the township voting office, called me, telling that he did not get any clear information on the outcomes of the votes. Even though by then we had heard the good news that in our constituency the NLD won the most votes.
The final result is expected in the upcoming days. I know that many people in my country feel the same way as me. Only when the final result is out, showing no signs of fraud, and only once we see the power is given back to the people, our worries will stop, the nightmare will end. However, I am also hopeful, and feel the energy to carry on the work for democracy.
It is 2015, not 1990, the attention of the international community also gives us the feeling we are not alone, and Aung San Suu Kyi is with us. And finally, the people of Myanmar have seen the power of nonviolence, and believe they can change their country.
Tin Aung Win (U Tin) has been a freelance development consultant for two years in the North Tadaingshe Village, Patheingyi Township, Mandalay, Myanmar. For 12 years he has worked as veterinarian, and has also worked in various NGO's for over 17 years in the cities of Mandalay and Yangon. U Tin is currently conducting trainings for CSOs (INGO, National NGO, CBO) on the topics of gender, sexuality, counseling, community development, social mobilization, good governance, accountability, equity, inclusiveness, conflict sensitivity, organizational development and many more topics related to development. U Tin participated in the WPP Asia Training of Trainers cycle of 2012-13.
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