Thread by @restlessmabrur

For all who are interested in the politics of #Burma and for all those who have been left questioning the logic and timing behind this supposed '#coup' - I think we need to first understand that there was no #democracy to begin with

The 2008 Constitution was written by the #Tatmadaw for the #Tatmadaw
1. 25% seats go to military
2. Military retains power in key depts and retains veto
3. Commander in Chief can call State of Emergency at a whim

The idea of the #Burma constitution 2008 was that with the combination of the 25% reserved seats and with the #military proxy party USDP only needing to secure 25% more of the popular vote, the military would always retain 'democratic' control

The most obvious mistake was that they opted for First Past The Post electoral system rather than Proportional Representation. What this means is that parliament seats are not won by vote size but by constituency at a time.

With the #NLD running with #SuuKyi at the helm, the military party, #USDP was always going to lose out.
They lost out in 2015 and lost our yet again in 2020.
#Trump was looking for 11,000 additional votes to hold onto power, the #Myanmar military was looking for 10 million +

With or without overall 'democratic' control, the #MyanmarMilitary always held the power. With #SuuKyi, #NLD and the 'idea' of #democracy the popular vote always went with the civilians. Even when they ENABLED a #genocide , even when they defended it at the @ICJ

So then without the #NLD #SuuKyi and this 'idea' of #democracy, #MinAungHlaing the #Tatmadaw now have the opportunity to 'clean' up this 'imagined democracy'. That's why they are now using terms like 'discipline democracy' - because now they are Judge, Jury and Executioner

Having a 'perceived' notion of 'democracy' is to enable economic growth and foreign investment - good for the population as a whole but even better for the greedy crop of elite at the top no doubt.

That's why #MinAungHlaing and the military will most likely try to release themselves of the shackle and label of #coup quickly. They will probably gun for electoral reform and change to Proportional Representation. But the man himself #Hlaing is hungry for power himself

The battle between military held control and #Hlaing held control will be the deciding factor. Either way, liberal capitalism and the perception of 'democracy' will be attained no doubt after much posturing by global powers and strong words of condemnation

The only lasting problem? As the great Malcolm X himself once said, 'You can't have capitalism without racism' and we all know racism does not exist without violence. The #genocide of the #Rohingya is no greater example of that.

The world and its 'leaders' turned and still turn a blind eye to the #Genocide of the #Rohingya by not referring or supporting the Gambia at the ICJ. But the overwhelming voice of concern at #democracy is loud and clear. Give us our liberalism, you can have your racism!