Last year has been quite good for democracy in south asia. Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives got their democratically elected government and at the same time Bangladesh and Pakistan could bring back civilian government after a long time. In Mayanmar also protests for democracy picked up last year but eventually got very brutally crushed. Perhaps India and China need to do some serious work here before democracy and freedom start taking meaning in this country. But except Mayanmar it's democracy which emerged triumphant all around south asia.
But will the trend continue? Recent trends are worrisome. Bangladesh is witnessing mutiny just after two months of civilian government in the office. Sri Lanka is trying to crush the tamil issue (which is brewing for decades) at the point of gun and Sharif brothers are getting banned from contesting election in Pakistan. These happenings are certainly going to push back the process of democracy a bit.
This is the time when both the newly-elected and other governments in the region set the stage for a more open and inclusive democratic process. This means listening to the opposition, bringing in greater transparency and paying attention to strengthening the institutions of democracy. Despite recent events, the very fact that democracy has taken root, howsoever tenuous, brings hope that we will one day reap its dividends.
Bangladesh may be seeing disturbances now, but it is significant that after two years of emergency rule and considerable uncertainty, parliamentary elections were held peacefully on December 29, 2008, returning democracy to the country, with a record turnout of 87 per cent of the 80 million registered voters. The election was credible and transparent and one of the most non-violent in the history of the country. The Awami League-led grand alliance won a landslide victory, securing over two-thirds of the 300 seats in the National Assembly. How the new government will foster working relationships across parties, and ensure that all parties, especially those in the minority, feel that they are part of the democratic process will be an important measure of success.
In Pakistan, despite the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, elections were held on February 18, 2008, that led to a victory for the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Yousaf Raza Gilani was elected Prime Minister and Asif Zardari, Bhutto’s husband, eventually won the presidency after General Pervez Musharraf’s resignation that brought eight years of military rule to an end. The people of Pakistan fought long and hard for a return to democracy. But now that the apex court has barred both former premier Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab, from contesting elections it can only be hoped that this will not lead to a political crisis.
Notwithstanding a history of violence, Nepal’s Constituent Assembly election on April 10, 2008, turned a new page in the country’s political history. The positive outcome of a smooth election gave a big boost to the peace process. A refreshing outcome of the election is that women now comprise more than 30 per cent of the elected members. Much hope now rests on the Constituent Assembly to meet the expectations and aspirations of Nepal’s diverse communities in shaping a ‘New Nepal’. Given Nepal’s huge development challenges there is no other viable option.
Bhutan held it's first ever election and voters turn out were magnificent. India is doing really good work in this country by helping democracy to take the baby walk here.
Now thrust is upon the SAARC to keep the development. SAARC countries will have to group up and form the strategy to protect and develop the democracy. Main reasons of failure of democracy in south Asian countries have been the curruption. Govenments in respective countries will have to fromulise starategy to root out this menace. Strenthening the judiciary and decentralising the power is other things these govenments need to do. All the political and governmental processes have to be more transparent and convenient for common man. Introduction of strong e-governance can solve ninty percent of problem immediately. In short, if at all democracy has to survive in this region...governments will have to live up to the people's expectations.
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