Myanmar's parliament

朝日新聞はビルマの民主化推進を支援するためにこの記事を掲載しました。
読売新聞はどうしたのでしょかね＾＾。これぞ価値観の違い。
取り上げる記事は新聞社各社が自由に決定する、これも民主主義には違いない。
価値観や意見の分裂を許すからこそ民主主義！
普通は毎日新聞が一番先に飛びつくような記事ですが今回、毎日さんおとなしいですね。
（スラチャイ記）

2011/02/09
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 8
EDITORIAL: Myanmar's parliament
ミャンマー―新政権は民主化へ行動を

The newly inaugurated parliament of Myanmar (Burma) convened last week in the gleaming new capital city of Naypyidaw. The event marked the official opening of the massive parliament building, but the media were not allowed near it. It was only from state-run news programs at night that the public learned about the decisions of the parliament, the first elected legislature in 20 years.
　新首都に建設された壮大な議事堂。そこで開かれる初めての国会。華やかなこけら落としのはずなのにメディアは建物にさえ近づけない。夜の国営ニュースが決定事項を伝えるだけだ。

So much for Myanmar's "new start" last week. There was nothing to indicate that the nation had moved any closer to democracy.
　国の変化や「民主化」への期待感など、まったく伝わらない門出である。

The military regime's former prime minister, Thein Sein, was named president by the new parliament, which was elected last November.
　ミャンマー（ビルマ）で国会が開かれ、軍事政権の首相だったテイン・セイン氏が大統領に選ばれた。

A new Cabinet will be formed soon, which the military regime claims will spell a "transition to democratic rule."
　昨年１１月、２０年ぶりに実施された総選挙を受けた国家元首の誕生だ。新内閣がまもなく発足し、これをもって「民政に移管する」と軍政はいう。

An elected administration sounds a lot better than a regime without a Constitution or parliament. But in reality, one-quarter of the seats of the new parliament are reserved for military officers. Even among the elected members, former military officers make up an overwhelming majority.
　憲法もない、議会もない統治から、選挙を経て新政権が誕生する。聞こえはいいが、議会の４分の１は軍人枠だ。選挙を経た議員の圧倒的多数も軍服を脱いだ元軍人である。

The support of more than three-quarters of the parliament is needed to amend the current Constitution, which was instituted by the military junta three years ago. It seems that the new administration is designed to legalize and perpetuate oppressive rule.
　３年前に軍主導で制定された憲法を改正するには国会の４分の３を超える賛成が必要なので、実際には合法を装った圧政の永続ともいえる。

Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, was not named president. Some Myanmar watchers say this at least shows some progress.
　軍政トップのタン・シュエ国家平和発展評議会議長が大統領に就任しなかったことで、最低限の前進はあったという見方もある。

However, Thein Sein is Mynamar's fourth highest ranked military official. As Than Shwe's loyal lieutenant, he was the face of the junta.
　しかし、軍序列４位のテイン・セイン氏は議長の忠実な部下として、対外的な役割を担った人物だ。

In Myanmar, the commander of the armed forces holds greater power than the president. The commander appoints the ministers of defense, internal affairs and others, and is vested with wide-ranging powers by the president in times of emergency.
　この国では、大統領以上の権力を握るポストがある。国軍司令官だ。国防相、内相らを任命するほか、非常時には大統領から全権を譲り受ける。

Than Shwe currently serves as commander of Myanmar's armed forces. Although the new administration's National Security Council is to appoint a new commander, nothing will change if Than Shwe is reappointed.
　タン・シュエ議長は現在、国軍司令官を兼務する。新政権の治安評議会が新司令官を選ぶが、議長が再びそこに座れば、状況は何も変わらない。

If the new administration is aiming at democratic rule, it must show its sincerity at home as well as abroad. The real test lies in who will be appointed to key government posts. If Than Shwe remains in his post or is allowed to keep pulling the strings, Myanmar will find it hard to convince anybody that it is moving toward democratic rule.
　新政権が「民政」をうたうなら、その意思を内外に示さねばならない。試金石は人事の刷新だ。タン・シュエ氏が司令官にとどまったり、闇将軍として権勢をふるったりすれば、民政移管とはとても認められない。

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has demanded that the United States and European countries lift their economic sanctions against Myanmar, on the grounds that Myanmar has held national elections and released democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.
　東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）は、総選挙の実施と民主化指導者アウン・サン・スー・チーさんの自宅軟禁解除を理由に、欧米諸国が同国に科す経済制裁の解除を求めた。

The Japanese government, too, acknowledges "some credit" is due to Myanmar for Suu Kyi's release and for the general elections, according to Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara.
　日本政府も、総選挙とスー・チーさんの解放については「一定の評価をしている」（前原誠司外相）という。

But it is still too soon for Japan to demand the lifting of the sanctions or to resume full-scale aid to Myanmar. Japan must await specific actions by the new administration.
　しかしまだ、日本が経済制裁解除を求める、あるいは本格的な援助を再開するといった時期ではない。新政府の具体的な行動を待つ必要がある。

Suu Kyi won her election 21 years ago by a landslide, and she is still an extremely popular figure in her country. Unless the new administration swiftly initiates dialogue with her in earnest, there can be no national reconciliation.
　スー・チーさんとの対話を速やかに、かつ本格的に始めるかどうか。２１年前の選挙で圧勝し、いまでも国民の間に高い人気のある彼女を抜きにして国民和解はあり得ない。

The new regime must also immediately free political prisoners. There are estimated to be around 2,000 people held for political reasons.
　さらに約２千人とされる政治犯の釈放もまったなしだ。

The Japanese government must patiently work with neighboring nations to pressure the new administration to take those steps.
　日本政府は新政権がこうした取り組みを進めるよう、周辺諸国とともに粘り強く働きかけなければならない。