Seminar Report The role of Political Parties in Democratic Transitions

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A critical challenge in the process was finding a balance between the fears of the white minority (prosecution, persecution, loss of property etc.) and the aspirations of the black majority (universal adult suffrage, proportional representation, share in economic wealth, nationalisation of national assets, redistribution of wealth). These issues were dealt with though dialogue and compromise. No side got all it wanted and both sides made important concessions. Since the successful political negotiations, the government has made tremendous progress but corruption slows down the process. The democratic dividend, ensuring that the political reforms also translate into real changes in people’s lives, is slow in coming. The key of the peaceful accommodation in South Africa can be summarised in the following points: 1. All sides had to make compromises on their demands and expectations. 2. Accommodating both the fears of an oppressive minority and the aspirations of a marginalised majority. 3. Constitutional and institutional guarantees for those giving up their monopoly balanced against the demands of a deprived majority. 4. The pivotal role of building trust between the negotiating partners including personal relationships for a mutually acceptable accommodation. 5. Demilitarization and transformation of the liberation movements into organised political parties, has helped to consolidate the transition. 6. The role of courageous, visionary and conciliatory leadership on both sides. 'Grand gesture' to unlock the democratic stalemate and create the space for negotiation. 7. The transition remains incomplete. The presentation was followed by comments by the discussant who noted the similarities and common ground between the transition in Myanmar and South Africa. She questioned if Myanmar found itself in partial or full transition and if it was enough to stop at multiparty democracy or if the country should go a step further and strive for a federal system of governance to ensure that the voices of all ethnic groups are sufficiently heard. During the ensuing discussion, participants raised questions such as: How can non-parliamentary parties play a role in a democratic transition to ensure that a sustainable political settlement is reached? What are the advantages of South Africa’s list system of voting over a quota system for minority groups? Will a system of proportional representation ensure more female candidates? How can ethnic and cultural groups be accommodated to safeguard diversity and at the same time, move beyond ethnic identity and put national identity to the forefront? Mr. MacKay responded to the questions asked, amongst others by explaining the process of trust building between ethnic groups in South Africa. He stated that is important for different groups to sit together often so they can realise that they have more to lose when they act individually instead of working together. 1.6. Summary Presentation on: “The complexities of deepening democracy: the case of Nepal” By Mr C.K. Lal, Nepalese Political Commentator Discussant: Mrs Ardeth Thawnghmung, Professor, University of Massachusetts-Lowell Mr C.K. Lal drew up the complexities of the multiparty democracy in Nepal and described the journey of Nepal towards democracy alluding to many issues and in particular the seminar themes of strengthening party politics and establishing multiparty dialogue around the constitution. He highlighted how Nepal remained almost closed to the outside world for nearly 150 years. Following a brief flirtation with parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy in the 1950s, parliament was dissolved in a royalmilitary in 1960. It took 30 years of struggle to restore multiparty democracy and Nepal got a new constitution in 1990. Following 10 years of armed insurgency and three years of royal-military rule, parliamentary parties joined hands with the Maoists and succeeded in overthrowing the monarchy in 2008. 8
The constituent assembly, however, was dissolved without giving the country a new constitution. In a review of nearly 25 years of competitive politics in Nepal, C.K. Lal showed that (a) Political parties are vibrant, but their institutionalization is incomplete; thus also politics become very volatile and unpredictable (b) Civil society is active but lacks sizable number of volunteers; (c) The press is fiercely free, but sustainability and accountability is in doubt; (d) International influence in the politics of the country is impossible to miss and one have to recognize that developing democracy must be considering both internal and external factors carefully. (e) Civil-military relation is yet to be stabilized; the military still plays an influential role and many measures have been put in place to ensure civil oversight of the military (f) Identity politics has come to stay; it is still the personal qualities rather than the policies that the voters unfortunately care about (g) Leaders have to balance their options between populism (group) and paternalism (loyal coterie). Mr C.K. Lal moreover underlined that the three main learnings of Buddha can also show the way for a healthy democracy: Wisdom, Alliance and The Right Path. He also drew attention to the importance of the choice of electoral system that fits each country best. There will always be advantages and disadvantages in each system, but it is important to also to look for mixed electoral systems. Finally, he stressed that one needs to write the constitution with a pen and not a gun and that all conflicts of interest cannot be solved by parliament or courts. Nepal shows that you need well-established resolution mechanisms outside courts and parliaments. Multiparty dialogue with a focus on co-habitation and cooperation is key to strengthening democracy. The presentation was followed by comments by the discussant Mrs Ardeth Thawnghmung who also noted the many similarities between Nepal and Myanmar and in particular the quest for peace, the ethnic complexities and how to ensure common ground in setting the course of the nation. The participants had many questions in response to the presentation – mainly about a number of key issues such as: The relationship between military and civil and if the role of the military is still felt in politics today in Nepal; How the ethnic complexity of Nepal is dealt with in todays politics? Why the democratic period in Nepal in the 1950ees did not last? What are the pros and cons of a mixed electoral system in Nepal and how would it function in Myanmar? Mr C. K. Lal responded in great detail to the many questions among other highlighting that the past role of the military is still felt today in Nepal, but with increasing civil oversight and that the issue of ethnicity is still on the agenda, but now peaceful talks are taking place. In general participants agreed that they were interested in knowing more about the above themes and in particular how to equip parties better for the democratic practice, to take good advice from electoral and constitutional experts and learned mediators on conflict resolution mechanism. 1.7. Closing Session Day 1 By Mrs Karijn de Jong, Senior Programme Manager, Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) On behalf of the three organizing institutes - DIPD, NIMD and Nyein (Shalom) Foundation - Karijn De Jong extended a sincere thank you to the participants for taking the time and interest to join the seminar and actively share views, insights, lessons and experiences on political transition processes in general and the role of political parties more particularly. In total 47 political parties across Myanmar’s political spectrum were present, which makes the gathering unprecedented and truly inclusive and impartial. She expressed hope that the seminar will be just the start of a long partnership between the organisations and the Myanmar political parties and a continuation of a first step towards an inclusive process of inclusive multiparty dialogue and cooperation in Myanmar. The deliberations have been very inspiring and insightful and hopefully all participants have captured the richness of the discussions and leave with further ideas, reflections and food for thought to further cultivate Myanmar’s democratic transition process. Mrs Karijn de Jong hoped that all the participants take away at least one idea that he/she will take forward in terms of strengthening their own party organisations and/or further strengthening multiparty dialogue and cooperation. 9
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Page 3 and 4: The discussions during the seminar
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Page 13 and 14: know each other at a personal level
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Page 23 and 24: 39 U Mai Ohn Khine CEC Ta-Arng (Pal
Page 25 and 26: 78 U Maung Kyaw Khine 79 U Sein Hla
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Seminar Report The role of Political Parties in Democratic Transitions

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