Political change in Japan.

For 62 of the last 63 years, one political party has either held or shared power in the Japanese parliament. That is why yesterday's election is so significant. Find out who won, who lost and why the Japanese electorate was so willing to elect members of a party with little experience in governing. That same party may also suffer from internal divisions, so it is not clear how long it will stay in power despite the number of seats it won yesterday.

significant – important สำคัญ
electorate – all the people in a country or area who are allowed to vote ผู้ที่มีสิทธิเลือกตั้งทั้งหมดในท้องที่หรือเขตหนึ่งๆ

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Japan votes for change, giving DPJ landslide win

Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Hatoyama displaying a leaflet of the party’s manifesto.

TOKYO: Japanese voters have swept the opposition to a historic victory in a national election, ousting the long-ruling conservative party and handing the novice Democrats the job of reviving a struggling economy.

The win by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) yesterday ends a half-century of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and breaks a deadlock in parliament, ushering in a government that has promised to focus spending on consumers, cut wasteful budget outlays and reduce the power of bureaucrats.

But the untested party will have to move quickly to keep support among voters worried about a record jobless rate and a rapidly ageing society that is inflating social security costs.

‘‘The people are angry with politics now and the ruling coalition,’’ Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama said.

‘‘We felt a great sense of people wanting change for their livelihoods and we fought this election for a change in government.’’

Media projections showed the Democrats set for a landslide win, possibly taking two-thirds of the seats in parliament’s powerful 480-member lower house. That matched earlier forecasts of a drubbing for Prime Minister Taro Aso’s LDP.

The ruling party loss ended a three-way partnership between the LDP, big business and bureaucrats that turned Japan into an economic juggernaut after the country’s defeat in World War II. That strategy foundered when Japan’s ‘‘bubble’’ economy burst in the late 1980s and growth has stagnated since.

‘‘This is about the end of the post-war political system in Japan,’’ said Gerry Curtis, a Japanese expert at Columbia University. ‘‘It marks the end of one long era, and the beginning of another one about which there is a lot of uncertainty.’’

Media exit polls showed the Democratic Party had won around 320 lower house seats — almost triple its 115 before the election. The LDP slumped to just over 100 seats from 300.

Mr Aso said he took responsibility for the defeat, adding an LDP leadership race to pick a successor should be held soon. The mood at LDP headquarters was grim after many party stalwarts including current cabinet ministers lost in their constituencies.

Support for the LDP, which swept to a huge election win in 2005 on charismatic leader Junichiro Koizumi’s pledges of reform, has crumbled due to scandals, policy flip-flops and a perceived inability to address the problems of a fast-ageing population.

Mr Hatoyama, 62, the wealthy grandson of a former prime minister, often invoked change during the campaign, a theme that resonated with voters, even if they were unsure his party would pull Japan out of its worst recession in 60 years. REUTERS

landslide win – an election victory by a very large margin or amount การชนะการเลือกตั้งแบบขาดลอย
leaflet – a piece of paper which gives you information or advertises something ใบปลิว
manifesto – the aims of a political party and the things they say they will do if they win an election นโยบายพรรคการเมือง
oust – to force to leave a position of power  ขับออกจากอำนาจ
novice – of someone with little experience doing something มือใหม่
revive - to come or bring something back to life, health, existence, or use ทำให้ฟื้นชีพ
struggling – having serious difficulties มีความยุ่งยาก
century – a period of one hundred years ศตวรรษ
deadlock – a situation in which neither person or group involved in a disagreement is willing to change their opinions or positions หมดหนทาง ไม่มีทางแก้
usher in – to be at the start of a new period, especially when important changes or new things happen, or to cause important changes to start happening เริ่มต้น, นำเข้ามา
outlay – an amount of money spent for a particular purpose ค่าใช้จ่าย
bureaucrats – people who work in government departments ข้าราชการ
inflate – to make something larger or more important พองตัว, เพิ่มขึ้น
coalition – the union of different political parties or groups for a particular purpose, usually for a limited time การร่วมกัน,การร่วมมือกัน,สัมพันธมิตร
livelihood – (the way someone earns) the money people need to pay for food, a place to live, clothing, etc การดำรงชีวิต, การครองชีพ
projection – a calculation or guess about the future based on information that you have การคาดคะเน
forecast – a statement about what will happen in the future based on information available now พยากรณ์
drubbing – a beating or serious defeat กาพ่ายแพ้
juggernaut – a large powerful force or organization that cannot be stopped สิ่งที่ใหญ่โตและมีกำลังมหาศาล
strategy– a plan or method for achieving something, especially over a long period of time ยุทธวิธี, แผนการ  
founder - a person who establishes an institution, business, or organisation ผู้ก่อตั้ง
stagnate – to not be growing or developing หยุดไม่เจริญ
exit poll – a poll taken at or near polling stations questioning voters about how they voted การสำรวจความคิดเห็นจากประชาชนที่เพิ่งลงคะแนนเสร็จสดๆ ร้อนๆ
triple – three times the number or size of something  จำนวนสามเท่า
slump – to fall suddenly ตกต่ำมาก
successor – a person or thing that comes after someone or something and takes their/its place  ผู้สืบทอด, ดำรงตำแหน่งต่อ
mood – the way you feel at a particular time อารมณ์
headquarters – the place where an organisation or company has its main offices สำนักงานใหญ่
grim – worried; without hope
stalwart – a person who has been loyal for a long time คนที่ซื่อสัตย์, คนที่ไว้วางใจได้
cabinet minister – a member of the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy คณะรัฐมนตรี
constituency – a district that elects its own representative to parliament เขตเลือกตั้ง
charismatic – having a strong personal quality that makes other people like them and be attracted to them ที่มีเสน่ห์ดึงดูด
pledge – a serious promise คำมั่้นสัญญา
reform – a change that is intended to correct a situation that is wrong or unfair การแก้ไข การปฏิรูป
crumble – to break, or cause something to break, into small pieces แตกละเอียด
scandal – a situation in which important people behave in a dishonest or immoral way that shocks people เรื่องอื้อฉาว
flip-flop – a quick and complete change of and idea, plan, policy, etc.
perceived – thought of or understood in a particular way ได้รับการมองว่า
address – to deal with a problem จัดการปัญหา
wealthy – having a large amount of money, land, and other valuable things   ที่มั่งคั่ง ร่ำรวย
campaign – a planned series of activities designed to persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate or political party การรณรงค์หาสียง
theme – the main subject of something ใจความสำคัญ, ประเด็นหลัก
resonate with – to be similar to what someone thinks or believes ตรงใจ โดนใจ
recession – a period when trade and industry are not successful and there is a lot of unemployment ภาวะเศรษฐกิจถดถอย

Burma's defenders

Getting international agreement on just about anything is difficult. Where Burma is concerned, it seems impossible. Read to find out why.

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China backs court ruling on Suu Kyi

Beijing urges nations to show Burma respect

Reuters and Bangkok Post

Burmese security guards sit inside a makeshift shelter outside the lakeside house of Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Rangoon, yesterday. EPA

RANGOON: China is calling on the international community to respect Burma’s judicial sovereignty after the junta extended Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention under house arrest, triggering Western outrage but only a measured response from its neighbours.

China, one of the few nations that stands by the junta, urged the outside world not to interfere in Burma’s affairs, suggesting Beijing would not back any UN action against the country.

Thailand, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has expressed its deep disappointment over the Burmese court’s ruling.

Mrs Suu Kyi, a 64-year-old Nobel Peace laureate, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in jail for violating an internal security law, but the junta said immediately after the ruling it would halve the sentence and allow her to serve the time at her Rangoon home.

Her lawyer Nyan Win yesterday said Mrs Suu Kyi had told him after the court ruling to explore ‘‘all legal avenues’’ to secure her release. He said the appeals process could take time.

The ruling drew sharp criticism from leaders around the world and the European Union said it was preparing sanctions.

Western nations pressed the UN Security Council to make a statement condemning the sentence, but other countries, including veto-wielding members Russia and China, stalled for time.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said it was time for dialogue with Burma, not criticism.

‘‘This not only accords with Burma’s interests, it is also beneficial to regional stability,’’ she said. ‘‘International society should fully respect Burma’s judicial sovereignty.’’

Analysts yesterday said Mrs Suu Kyi’s reduced sentence might have been an attempt to appease Burma’s friends and neighbours — China, India and Thailand, in particular — whose trade has propped up a state crippled by international sanctions.

The Burmese court on Tuesday sentenced Mrs Suu Kyi to serve 18 months of house confinement with limited freedom.

The Thai Foreign Ministry yesterday issued a statement that Thailand, as the Asean chair, had learned with deep disappointment that Mrs Suu Kyi was sentenced to 18 months of house confinement with limited freedom.

Thailand reiterated calls made by Asean foreign ministers attending the 42nd Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting and the 16th Asean Regional Forum, held in July in Phuket, for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Mrs Suu Kyi, with a view to enabling them to participate in next year’s general elections.

The charges stemmed from American intruder John Yettaw’s two-day uninvited stay at Mrs Suu Kyi’s lakeside home in May. The judge said she had breached her house arrest terms and broke a now-obsolete security law.

Mr Yettaw, who had told the court God sent him to warn Mrs Suu Kyi she would be assassinated, was sentenced to seven years’ hard labour in a parallel trial on three charges, including immigration offences and ‘‘swimming in a non-swimming area’’.

A commentary carried in three of Burma’s state-controlled newspapers yesterday said the decision to detain Mrs Suu Kyi should be accepted to allow the country to move forward.

Burma’s military, which has ruled the country with an iron fist for almost five decades, has been impervious to international criticism and reluctant to engage with the West.
 
The generals insist next year’s elections would be free and fair and would pave the way for a civilian government.

ruling – a decision by a court of law คำตัดสิน คำชี้ขาด
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
respect – to accept the importance of someone's rights or customs
makeshift – using whatever is available and therefore not very good ใช้ประทังไปก่อน ใช้ชั่วคราว
judicial sovereignty – the independence of a country’s court system อำนาจอธิปไตยของศาล
junta – a group of military officers that governs a country, usually without having been elected รัฐบาลทหาร
extend – to add more time ยืดออกไป
detention – forced officially to stay in a place การกักตัว
trigger – to cause กระตุ้น
outrage – to cause to become extremely angry  ทำให้โกรธแค้น
measured – careful and limited  อย่างไตร่ตรองและรอบคอบ
interfere – to deliberately become involved in a situation and try to influence the way that it develops, although you have no right to do this  แทรกแซง
affairs – events and activities relating to the government, politics, economy etc of a country, region, or the world  ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างประเทศ
sentence – (of a court of law) to give a punishment to someone who has been accused of committing a crime คำพิพากษา
violate – to do something that is against a law, agreement, principle, etc. ละเมิดกฎหมาย
avenue – a method or way of doing something; a possibility วิธีการ, ลู่ทาง
secure – to get or achieve something การได้มาซึ่ง
sharp – strong ที่รุนแรง
sanction – an official order, such as the stopping of trade, which is taken against a country in order to make it obey international law  การคว่ำบาตร
condemn – to criticise something or someone strongly, usually for moral reasons การประนาม
veto-wielding – having veto power  อำนาจในการยับยั้ง
accord with – to be the same as something, or to agree with something สอดคล้องกับ
beneficial – helpful or good  มีประโยชน์
appease – to say or do something in order to make someone feel less angry ปลอบใจ หรือทำให้เป็นที่พอใจ
prop up – to support, especially something that is weak สนับสนุน (ความคิด,บุคคล)
crippled – damaged and prevented from working properly ที่พัง ที่ใช้การไม่ได้
confinement – when a person or animal is kept somewhere, usually by force; detention การกักตัว
reiterate – to repeat something in order to emphasise it พูดซ้ำ ย้ำ
release – to allow someone to go free ปล่อยตัว
enable – to make someone able to do something, or to make something possible  ทำให้เป็นไปได้
stem from – to be caused by เกิดจาก
intruder – someone who enters a place without permission บุกรุก
breach – to fail to follow a law or rule ละเมิดกฎข้อบังคับ
terms – conditions; requirements  ข้อกำหนด
obsolete – not in use any more, having been replaced by something newer and better  ล้าสมัย หมดยุคไปแล้ว
assassinate – to kill a famous or important person, especially for political reasons การลอบฆ่า
parallel – of an event or situation that happens at the same time as and/or is similar to another one คล้ายกัน ขนานกัน
commentary – a discussion of something ความคิดเห็น  คำวิจารณ์
iron fist – very firm control การคุมเข้ม
decade – a period of ten years  ทศวรรษ
impervious – not influenced or affected by something  ไม่สะดุ้งสะเทือน
reluctant – not willing to do something  อย่างไม่เต็มใจ อย่างลังเลใจ
engage with – to make an effort to understand and deal with someone or something  ประสานกับ
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
pave the way – to make something possible or easier to be done  ปูทางไว้สำหรับ
civilian – someone who does not belong to the armed forces or the police พลเรือน

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:57 AM