Where USDP leads country

 

According to the Open Myanmar Initiative (OMI) report, the party submitted the largest number of proposals in the current parliamentary session. During the first six parliament meetings, it submitted 572 proposals to the Lower House and 470 to the Upper House.

A total of 125 laws were drawn and approved in the Union Parliament this term, but public woes are not yet silenced.

National League for Democracy chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi submitted an urgent proposal to the last Parliament meeting, pointing out the paucity of addendum laws and by-laws passed by the USDP-led parliament.

She also pointed out in an interview with the Voice of America news agency that although the parliament has passed laws, the government’s administrative capacity remains too weak to implement new laws.

For example, the Union parliament established the Farmland Investigation Commission to conduct studies on land-grabbing allegedly committed by the military in order to find solutions for disgruntled farmers. The commission’s report was released in September, revealing many issues about conflict over farm lands, but the commission’s recommendations have not been implemented, and the conflicts remain unsettled.

Upper House speaker Khin Aung Myint, who also serves as a secretary for USDP, recently criticised the budget, saying that only about half of the amount was actually spent. 

Despite criticisms that the party has turned a blind eye to the people, Joint-Secretary Thein Zaw saw it differently. 

 

USDP’s beliefs 

 In his 37-miniute speech delivered to party members in his responsible territory on December 8, Thein Zaw detailed his party’s ideologies and aspirations. He also urged the audience to recognise that all of the improvements that have taken place in Myanmar since the beginning of the political reform process have been the work of the USDP.

He also urged the gathered party members to recognise the necessity of the army’s participation in national political affairs. 25 per cent of the Myanmar parliament is reserved for members of the Myanmar Armed Forces. 

However, he said, “Later, army’s role must be reduced. History makes this undeniable.”

Thein Zaw also told his audience that the USDP would lead the way toward charter change.

“The party’s top leaders desire charter change. This should be led by the ruling party because the party brought about the creation of the constitution. That is why the reform process was carried out. The opposition will not be able to amend the constitution,” said Thein Zaw.

Thein Zaw also extolled his party’s accomplishments in parliament throughout the current term. He recounted that 125 laws have been drawn and enacted by parliament over the last four years.

“USDP members were the most numerous in the parliament. Therefore, these accomplishments belong to the USDP,” he said. 

The value of farmland has gone up in Myanmar recently, and the secretary attributed this to the government’s policy of buying land from farmers, often for enormous sums, leaving some farmers wealthy. He said this shows that the government is doing more for farmers than activists who advocate for farmers’ rights.

“The USDP is doing the best for the nation. The parliament is not only enacting laws but also fulfilling the public’s desires and needs. Although the media gives credit to other people for improving the lives of farmers, this work is, in fact, only being done by the USDP.”

He added that most people do not know about the party’s activities because the media is biased against the USDP.

Thein Zaw also addressed the recent increase in the salaries of civil servants, saying low salaries were causing corruption. He explained that some people in the government were receiving illegal money, while others were not, leading to internal discord. Raising salaries was a way to allow government offices to function properly.

“If the USDP is voted out and becomes an opposition party, the winning party must respect civil servants by maintaining their employment and salaries. When the army seized power in 1988, they supported the staff of the fallen Myanma Socialist Party, and USDP also supported the existing staff when they took power from the army,” said Thein Zaw.

 

Facts 

Yet, the 2012 by-election results said otherwise. The party lost heavily to NLD. Even Thein Zaw said that it was a “heavy loss.”

“It raised the alarm to us. If we had won it, we would have been shouting as if ‘The empty boat may sail alone, but the banner will not be brought down.’ Now, we don’t have an empty boat, and luckily the banner leans a little. If we proceed in this way, we will be unfavourable to the people. If that happens, to whom should we hand the country? We will have to think a great deal. The headquarters of the ruling party are trying to recover,” Thein Zaw said.

Ahead of the 2015 election, some party leaders have made a move. Aside from Thein Zaw, party advisor Aung Thaung, Vice-Chairman Thura Aye Myint and Secretary Thein Swe have recently met with party members in their respective regions.

 

Next move

The USDP campaigned to gain members and recover from its 2012 loss. At least 30 active young party members joined in every village and quarter. The ruling party expected to collect 1.9 million members from 66,000 villages. 

However, once again the USDP fails to see that the number of its party members does not equate to success in leadership.

Various factions are emerging in support of different party leaders, such as advisor Aung Thaung, President Thein Sein, parliament speaker Shwe Mann and others. Each leader has a different approach and demeanour from the next. Some harbour genuine concern for the good of the people, while others cannot see beyond success on paper.

The ruling party has not experienced a competitive general election yet. All untested parties in Myanmar history ultimately crumbled. Next year’s election will be a test for the USDP and determine just how suitable they are for leadership in an emerging democracy.