There was a clear reminder this week that Myanmar’s democracy is intended by its creators and overseers to be discipline-flourishing. Speaking in Pathein on Monday, Tin Aye, chair of the Union Election Commission, argued for continuation of the present system of military-appointed legislators, and announced that he will constrain future polls by allowing candidates only to campaign in their own constituencies. The full story appeared in Wednesday’s Irrawaddy.

On the issue of when military appointees will be banished from elected assemblies, Tin Aye had this to say: “Only when democratic standards are high in the country.” That’s basically a tautology, and in any case is merely a private opinion since the current arrangement is written into the 2008 Constitution and will not be changed on the whim of a single official.

On the issue of future elections, Tin Aye made this comment: “Contestants need to say something like, ‘If you have nothing to do with my constituency, please stay away. This is my constituency and I will do my own campaign.’” However, according to the Irrawaddy he meant much more than that, for he also stated that he will set the campaign period and zones, and determine who is eligible to canvass in each constituency.

This is not merely a private opinion, but rather the public position of a senior official. As it happens, that official is also a former high-ranking general appointed to his current post by President-elect Thein Sein in February 2011. What he seems to want to do is write another “Daw Suu” clause into Myanmar’s democratic settlement.

By all accounts, Tin Aye is quite keen to ensure Myanmar’s electoral processes conform to international best practice in technical areas related to the integrity of the vote (for instance by sealing ballot boxes properly). By contrast, his declared aim to manipulate democratic procedure is wholly inconsistent with global standards.