The National Unity Party (NUP), the second largest party in Burma's general election on Sunday, has conceded defeat to the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), although it accuses the USDP of winning the election illegally. The NUP—formed by loyalists to late dictator Gen Ne Win who was forced from power
The Asian Network For Free Elections (ANFREL-Foundation) calls attention to an important point from November 7th & 8th‘s counting activities that requires the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the Union Election Commission (UEC) of Myanmar to urgently clarify why the counting process was not made transparent to the public and the media beginning with
Burma has been placed under a 90-day state of emergency after holding its first election in 20 years. Emergency rule to prevent political gatherings has been in place for three months in the lead-up to the poll. The state of emergency prevents further political gatherings and stops soldiers from leaving the military
1. Today, the first elections were held in Burma/Myanmar, since those of 1990 whose results were never implemented. 2. Elections in themselves do not make a country democratic; nevertheless they should offer the opportunity for a new beginning and greater pluralism. The EU regrets therefore that the authorities did not take the necessary steps to ensure a
Post-election Chief Ministers already selected, sources say - Ba Kaung The Burmese regime has reportedly already selected several formervhigh-ranking military officials as the future chief ministers for regionalvand state governments to be formed after the Nov. 7 election. All the selected retired military officials are candidates of the junta's proxy Union Solidarity and
Burma’s military rulers say international poll monitors and foreign journalists will be barred from the country’s first election in 20 years. The United States, Britain and Burma’s Southeast Asian neighbors have urged the military junta to allow independent election monitors at the November 7 election. Critics say the election will actually strengthen
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for the international community not to recognize junta’s planned 2010 election and its results. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD), victor of 1990 election, decided unanimously to boycott the junta’s planned sham 2010 election due to its unfair electoral laws. Without the
The District Election Commission in Kalaymyo has reportedly dismissed a complaint against Enoch, an independent candidate vying for regional parliamentary seat from Sagaing Division. The original complaint, allegedly filed by supporters of rival parties, alleged that Enoch illegally organized a campaign gathering without official permission.
Chiang Mai, Thailand: More than 30 well-known Shan artists and activists teamed up with Thai border-based community groups in producing a new VCD, exposing the truth about Burma's SPDC-controlled 2010 Elections and possible post-election impacts on the people. The Shan language VCD, which was yesterday officially launched in Chiang Mai, Thailand, features
The secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has called on Burma's government to ensure the coming elections help lead to national reconciliation. Surin Pitsuwan hopes Burma's conflicts with the international community over its human rights record may also be resolved after the vote, according to VOA’s Ron Corben from
Several leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Burma's recently dissolved main opposition party, are traveling in Kachin State with a prominent ethnic leader to meet with local party members and lobby for a boycott of next month's election. NLD central executive committee member Ohn Kyaing told The Irrawaddy that he
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed "grave concern" at the Burma junta's refusal to free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ahead of a November election. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, pictured in September 2010, on Friday expressed "grave concern" at the Burma junta's refusal to free opposition leader Aung
The Chinland Guardian is pleased to present a comprehensive list of party candidates from Chin State, contesting parliamentary seats in the three legislatures (Pyithu Hluttaw, Amyotha Hluttaw & Pyine Hluttaw) in upcoming 2010 Elections.
The Asian Network for Free Elections(ANFREL) was established in 1997 as Asia’s first regional network of civil society organizations. Its director, Somsri Hananuntasuk, has just returned from Afghanistan where the group was allowed to freely monitor the polls, interview candidates and hold press conferences. It’s a world away from Burma, she tells DVB, where
The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which is backed by Burma’s military, is campaigning ethnic Kachin churches, using small donations to gain votes on November 7th, according to Kachin church sources. On October 11, USDP candidate, U Thein Zaw, campaigned at the Kachin Roman Catholic Church in Gat Shang Yang Village,
BD Prakash is a senior political analyst with The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), a nongovernmental agency formed in 1997 as Asia’s first regional network of civil society organizations. It strives to promote and support democratization at national and regional levels in Asia.
Shortly after the promulgation of the Union Election Commission Law in March, Burma's junta appointed a Union Election Commission of 18 members. The commission is led by former major-general Thein Soe, who has served as a military judge advocate-general and deputy chief justice of the Supreme Court. The Irrawaddy compiled brief profiles
Representative from the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) say the party plans to delay sending in its Hluttaw [candidate list] as long as possible, to avoid drawing notice from government-run political groups. According to a vice campaign organizer, the AMRDP is withholding its candidate list because it fears that early announcements
Late in the morning on May 27, 2009, a shouting throng raised their voices at the gate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees compound in Mae Sot, Thailand... Author’s Note: Nelson Mandela, a man who knows, has said: “There is no easy road to freedom anywhere, and many of us
Inordinate delay by the Burmese Election Commission (EC) to grant approval to the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) led by former Vice-Chairman of ‘Kachin Independence Organization’ (KIO), has considerably delayed organizational work. “We are awaiting party registration from the Commission to start organizational work. We feel that there is deliberate delay in
