PeaceJam | Burma Paves Way for First Election Since 1990

Burma Paves Way for First Election Since 1990

Posted 3/9/2010 at 11:09 AM by Bradlee A in Laureates News
Affiliate: PeaceJam HQ

Not since Aung San Suu Kyi won the right to be Prime Minister of Myanmar, formerly Burma, in 1990 has the country held an election.

Soon that will not be the case, as elections have been scheduled for later this year.

The real question that many are asking is if the elections will be fair.

Richard Lloyd Parry, London Times wrote:
Burma’s military dictatorship has set out laws governing a general election promised later this year, reinforcing the predictions of its opponents that it will be a hollow exercise intended to consolidate military power under a democratic façade.

Under the new rules published today in the state-run newspapers, the government will assign a panel of five to oversee the election.

Richard Lloyd Parry, London Times wrote:
“This demonstrates that the generals will dominate the entire process,” said Mark Farmaner of the Burma Campaign UK. “If this election were a football match the generals would be playing in both teams, as well as being the referee.”

Click here to read the article.

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Pantea B wrote:
Brad this is exciting news and of course I posted the things leading up to this election last month, which was the release of one of the NLD's leaders from house arrest! So for the article and Aung San's reaction to his release and returning to his duties you can go to the link
posted 3/9/2010 at 1:27 PM

Dawn E wrote:
I just read an article that said that Aung San Suu Kyi would not even be allowed to vote in this election -- is that really true?
posted 3/11/2010 at 8:55 AM

Sam L wrote:
Dawn, I too just read a similar article. Myanmar's military regime has officially barred Suu Kyi from running as a candidate in the upcoming elections, a definitive sign in my mind of where these elections are headed. While the elections seem to be a positive step, I have little to no hope that they are anything more than a way for the military junta to attempt to legitimize its power through a rigged election. Even if the elections are fair and an opposing political party wins, what's to stop them from repeating what they did in the 1990 elections when they nullified the results after Suu Kyi had won?
posted 3/11/2010 at 10:36 AM

Jen C wrote:
I think that these election are only as great as they are fair. And if Suu Kyi is not allowed to vote or run, than the Myanmar government is just putting on a show, and do not have any real committment to having a democratically elected representative for its citizens. What I will say is good, is that they don't really seem to be fooling anybody, and let's hope that includes the Myanmar people.
posted 3/11/2010 at 12:55 PM

Pantea B wrote:
Article on the ban for Aung San to vote I think years ago her choice to remain under house arrest instead of leaving the country pretty much striped her of her citizen rights there! And as Jen says I'm not sure that it would matter anyway, since it's not really a democratic elections process. Shirin, my self and my family and millions of Iranians have not participated in any of the elections of the Islamic Republic in the past thirty years, simply because it's pointless to vote in a process that is not free or democratic to begin with. After thirty years people chose decide something different and vote this summer and yet look where that got them!
posted 3/11/2010 at 2:08 PM

Brett E wrote:
we'll be in Burma in April. It will be interesting to see everything in the flesh. I will be scared of bags of oranges though.
posted 3/12/2010 at 5:11 AM