Burma Tha Din Election Jargon Buster Guide

With the election due on November 8th, Burma Tha Din has produced this handy new jargon buster for the many journalists, observers and diplomats visiting Burma for the first time.


Disciplined democracy = authoritarian government backed by the military.

Nationwide = some parts of some ethnic states.

Media freedom = we’re watching you.

Independent analyst = someone with a political agenda which they don’t want to publicly admit to.

Bengali = Term many Burmese use for Rohingya
Rakhine Muslim = term many UN, EU and other government officials use for Rohingya
Rohingya = term Rohingya ethnic minority use for Rohingya

Ashley South Syndrome = sufferers of this syndrome usually live in Burma, or have worked on Burma related issues for a long time. The main symptom is the belief that only they ‘get it’ about Burma and truly understand the country and its problems properly. If only Burmese people and the international community listened to them and did things their way real progress could be made. They believe most other people working on Burma issues are missing the obvious, blinded by political agendas, doing more harm than good, or simply idiots. They also apply this to Burmese people. If you are coming to Burma for the first time, you will definitely meet people suffering from this syndrome. Avoiding air conditioned coffee shops can help reduce the chance of exposure.

Miracle = getting a quote from the European Union delegation office before your copy deadline.

Bloody miracle = getting a quote from the European Union delegation office which is interesting enough to be worth quoting.

Tonkinitis = A termed coined by human rights activists suffering extreme irritation, disbelief and frustration after receiving a pedantic email from Network Myanmar telling them everything they are doing to promote human rights in Burma is pointless and wrong.

Unity = term used by many Burmese democracy and human rights activists which translates most accurately as ‘lip service.’

Happy Hour = Key to your schedule. Where journalists, UN officials, aid workers, diplomats and other expats, often the best paid people in Burma, go for cheap drinks and free food at one or more bars every night.

It’s a very complicated/complex issue = term used by diplomats when they know they ought to be doing something but don’t really want to.

969 = Buddhist nationalist movement which is anti-Muslim.
999 = Shan noodle house where white people go to eat noodles.

Transparent election = diplomatic speak for ‘please don’t stuff the ballot box like you did in 2010.'

Credible election = diplomatic speak for ‘even we can’t claim the election will be free and fair so this word will do as good as any instead.'

Inclusive election = diplomatic speak for ‘look, we weren’t going to make a fuss about the disenfranchisement of the Rohingya but banning Muslim candidates as well is a bit over the top.’

Supporting elections = diplomatic speak for funding elections.

Setbacks in the reform process = diplomatic speak for ‘everything’s going to shit.’

Watch the process closely = diplomatic speak for exactly that, watching elections. Nothing more.

Toyota’d = the sudden desire to sign any ceasefire agreement after coming into possession of a four wheel drive vehicle.