Day Two: Nominees, not candidates (13 February 2014)

The “election” today was a disappointment, because all the 5 candidates withdrew their candidacies at the last minute, after citing their reasons for doing so. One, of course, was that they were nominated by the Election Commission (EC) only8 days earlier. Not one of them had shown interest in grabbing the chairman’s office.

As for other reasons, those that were enunciated by Vice Chairman #1 Maj Gen Sai Yi, 57, are quite noteworthy:

• My fragile health. I’m afraid I’ll just make myself one more burden to the cause, instead of relieving it

• My past relations with the Burmese government have not been exemplary. I’m afraid my presence may even get in the way of the peace process and hurt the struggle of the people

• Relations with neighboring countries. That is also something that I have never had any experience.

• Raising funds. I’m even finding it hard trying to make ends meet for my family. Let alone supporting an organization this big

Well, they all had ample reasons for backing down, but of course many of us couldn’t help feeling we were being cheated out of an election, no matter what the outcome was.
They all followed their public disclaimers by recommending that Sao Yawdserk, who had earlier rejected his nomination, continue to serve as chairman for the third time. Their recommendation was eventually put to a vote and the result, to no one’s surprise, was a foregone conclusion:
Gen Yawdserk, during his acceptance speech, asked the conference: “Are you not afraid I will lead you to surrender?” After the conference’s response was overwhelmingly “No”, he promised, “Whatever I do, it will be for the good of the movement and the people and for upholding our basic principles.”
He also promised that he would not stand for the next election. “Whoever is going to lead us, he (or she) must not only able to think and talk, but also do it,” he said. “But by 2018, I may be able to think and talk, but not do it.”  He counseled that civilians are also made eligible for the office.
One other interesting item of the meeting was the 4 year report, November 2009-October 2013, of the RCSS/SSA under his leadership. Here are the excerpts:
Recruits

• Volunteers      760
• Draftees         4,194

Clashes

• 323 times
• Enemy casualties
  • 436 wounded
  • 431 killed

Treatment of drug addicts

• 1,084 treated
• 81 still under treatment

Motor vehicles in Loi Taileng base

• Automobiles    35
• Motorbikes    233

Expenditures

• Approx. $ 50 million

If the reader have any questions concerning, allow me to say I do have them too. But there wasn’t any opportunity or time to ask.