ミャンマー補選 民主化路線に弾みをつけたい

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 5, 2012)
Hopes grow for future of democracy in Myanmar
ミャンマー補選　民主化路線に弾みをつけたい（4月4日付・読売社説）

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was kept under house arrest for about 15 years by Myanmar's military junta, is now set to take public office for the first time.
　ミャンマーの軍事政権と対立し、約１５年間も自宅軟禁を強いられた民主化運動指導者アウン・サン・スー・チーさんが、初めて国政に参加することになった。

The opposition National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in Myanmar's parliamentary by-election, which was held a year after the junta ceded power. After winning a lower house seat, NLD leader Suu Kyi said, "We hope this [triumph] will be the beginning of a new era."
　民政移管から１年がたったミャンマーで行われた議会の補欠選挙で、野党・国民民主連盟（ＮＬＤ）が圧勝した。党首のスー・チーさんも下院議員に当選し、「この勝利が新たな時代の幕開けになることを願っている」と語った。

The vote appears to mark a major turning point for Myanmar's politics. We hope President Thein Sein will speed up the country's democratization.
　ミャンマー政治は大きな転機を迎えたと言える。テイン・セイン大統領には、民主化路線を加速してもらいたい。

The by-election was held to fill vacancies created by the resignation of lawmakers due to such reasons as the promotion to Cabinet posts after they won seats in the 2010 general election. The NLD boycotted the general election and was disqualified as a political party. However, approval of its reregistration as a political party paved the way for it to run candidates in the by-election.
　補選は、２０１０年総選挙の当選者のうち閣僚就任に伴う辞職などで生じた欠員を補うものだ。ＮＬＤは総選挙を拒否して政党資格を失ったが、政権の政党再登録承認を受けて補選に参加した。

Holding a "free and fair election" was a test of the Myanmar government's commitment to transition to democracy. Although some voting irregularities were reported, the government can be given credit for allowing international observers and completing the vote without confusion.
　「自由で公正な選挙」を実現することが、民主化の定着度を占う試金石だった。国際的な選挙監視団を受け入れ、一部で不正も伝えられたものの、選挙が混乱なく終了したことは評価できる。

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Small but significant force

Even though the NLD swept to victory in the by-election, its seats in both chambers account for less than 10 percent of the total. Members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, formerly a junta support organization, and unelected lawmakers who were appointed by the military make up 80 percent of the country's legislature.
　補選でＮＬＤが勝利したとはいえ、議席は上下両院の１割に満たない。軍政の翼賛組織を継承した与党・連邦団結発展党や軍人枠議員は全体の８割に上る。

Despite its small share, NLD's holding of parliamentary seats could become an important step forward in the country's transition to democracy.
　それでも、議会の一角をＮＬＤが占めたことは、民主化の促進に向けた重要な一歩となる。

In preparation for the 2015 general election, the NLD reportedly intends to demand the government realize reconciliation with ethnic minorities and constitutional amendments, including the elimination of the current quota for members of the parliament appointed by the military. Attention will be directed to how much democratization the government will allow while it keeps the old guard in the military in check.
　ＮＬＤは１５年の総選挙に向けて、少数民族との和解や、軍人枠撤廃など憲法改正を求めて行く考えだ。政権が軍内の守旧派の動向をにらみながら、どこまで民主化に応じるかが焦点となる。

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Rebuilding economy key task

Meanwhile, the NLD will be tested for its ability to propose measures in such areas as economic reforms.
　ＮＬＤも、経済改革などを巡る提言能力が問われよう。

For Myanmar, the poorest among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members, rebuilding its economy is an urgent task. The country will serve as ASEAN's chair in 2014. It needs to improve ties with the international community further by making progress in its democratization.
　東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）の最貧国ミャンマーにとって、急務は経済再建だ。１４年にはＡＳＥＡＮ議長国を務める。民主化進展をテコに、国際社会との関係改善をさらに進める必要がある。

The European Union plans to decide whether it will lift sanctions against Myanmar when EU foreign ministers meet late this month. The EU set a free and fair by-election as a key condition for lifting the sanctions. The United States also likely will ease sanctions gradually.
　補選の公正な実施を制裁解除の条件としていた欧州連合（ＥＵ）は、今月下旬の外相理事会で解除の是非を判断する。米国も、段階的な制裁緩和へ動くだろう。

Ahead of its Western counterparts, the Japanese government has extended assistance to Myanmar. It plans to host Myanmar's president in late April, and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda intends to announce the resumption of yen loans to help the country build major infrastructure.
　日本政府は、欧米に先駆けて支援に乗り出した。今月下旬には大統領を招き、野田首相は、大型インフラ支援につながる円借款の供与再開を表明する方針だ。

Meanwhile, Japanese companies have high hopes for the business potential of Myanmar as a new investment destination after Thailand and Vietnam. The government should cooperate in Myanmar's efforts to improve the climate for investment and back the country's reforms further.
　タイやベトナムに続く新たな投資先として、日本企業はミャンマー・ビジネスの将来性に期待する。政府は、投資環境改善につながるような協力を進め、改革を一層後押しすべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4, 2012)
（2012年4月4日01時48分 読売新聞）