Burmese Language
UN, US and UK slam Burma elections
Burma’s announcement of the date for elections this year has been met with strong words by the international community, with the US saying there remains “no level playing field” for the polls.
The date for the country’s first elections in 20 years has been set for 7 November, after months of wild speculation and rumours, and even doubt as to whether they would be held this year.
But the UK foreign minister, Jeremy Browne, said that the polls “are set to be held under deeply oppressive conditions designed to perpetuate military rule,” adding that the opportunity for prosperity and an open society “has been missed”.
November will mark the fifth elections since Burma won independence from British rule in 1948, but only the second since a coup in 1962 heralded the start of military rule.
His comments were echoed by US state department spokesman Philip Crowley, who said that “given the oppressive political environment in Burma…[elections] cannot be inclusive or credible under these circumstances.”
The Burmese government has already allocated 166 out of 654 parliamentary seats to military officials, while the constitution stipulates that elected vice presidents must have prior military experience.
The election date, announced by state media on Friday, falls about a week before Aung San Suu Kyi’s current term of house arrest is due to expire on 13 November. Her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), has boycotted the election, while 40 parties have so far been approved to run.
Martin Nesirky, spokesperson for UN chief Ban Ki-moon, said that the secretary general had urged Burma “to release all remaining political prisoners without delay so that they can freely participate in the political life of their country”.
Burma holds some 2,150 political prisoners in jails across the country. Suu Kyi, whose party won the 1990 elections but were never handed power, has been under house arrest for 15 of the past 20 years.
Ban Ki-moon reportedly renewed his appeal to the ruling junta “to honour their publicly stated commitments to hold inclusive, free and fair elections in order to advance the prospects of peace, democracy and development for Myanmar [Burma]”.
Comments
Other Elections, News, Politics Stories
- Rakhine MPs disqualified by ruling
- Burma’s new parliaments will convene in January: USDP MP-elect
- Post-election lawsuits fly
- Burma claims 76% voter turnout
- Burma’s new leaders court Arakan party
- Monk rejects USDP liaison role
- Final election results announced
DVB TV
MOST READ STORIES
You need to log in to vote
The blog owner requires users to be logged in to be able to vote for this post.
Alternatively, if you do not have an account yet you can create one here.
Powered by Vote It Up
Rhetoric but no acts. Uprisings after uprisings with resultant death of thousands at the hands of gun-totting Junta, people in Burma had done their bits to gain much needed human right and human dignity. Is it asking too much? The United Nations and Democracy countries must take responsibility to protect the defenceless citizens at the peril of its own fascist army. People had done enough. Thousands of political prisoners languishing in prisons. International leaders must take responsibility to protect these helpless oppressed by taking actions. Not Rhetoric. Action like pushing the corrupted China, India, Russia and ASEANs to side-lines. Threat the JUnta with armed ambargo. UN should send in troops to bring down the Junta. Regime change by force is needed here. People are helpless. They can not do anymore. It is not interference in countries sovereign. It is protecting the innocent from the herm way of its fascist army.
China, India and the ASEAN must cooperate with the UN and the other countries who support the legitimate rights of the people of Burma. By supporting the junta, they are party to the dire oppression in Burma. Don’t you see that these junta people are criminals. Why do you want to be classified in their category? In fact, you are not. You are only short-sighted, acting in self interests. That is highly deplorable. Kindly look at the tiny little faces children and young people of Burma
who are being destroyed in both spirit and body. Thay will never “grow” but be stunted in intellect and physical strength, not qualified to be worthy members of a decent-living world community, if not totally eleminated and rendered extinct.
The people of Burma appeal to all to come to their aid, and come in time. We beseach China, India and the ASEAN in particular for their frienfly assistance in favour of the people, not the junta. Friends to the people in need would be friends in deed.
The world community has to see that the junta is stripped of arms and econimic muscles so that they would yield to the will of the people. That would be the day the people come together, work out the problems together, work and enjoy the fruits of their own labour to the full, not enslaved.
Voting USDP means helping the junta torturing DASSK, MKN, ZKN,SSN and other thousands of political prisoners.
Are you going to help the regime to continue the atrocities through USDP?? I can say nobody will say yes in Burma. The result is clear, go for opposition parties.
International Organizations had already knew unfair 2010Election.But,they neglected Burma”s true condition.After US president was Mr Obama and UN General Secretary was Mr Ban Ki-MoonAsia),Burma”s military dictators are longer power for militarism.Their policy isn”t very strong,just speak with mouths, never pratically act and even those they want to lift the Sanction.”After lift the anction,Dictators must be permanent power”.US president must be Mr Bush for Burma at this moment. Mr Obama and Mr Ban always said Dictators that “to go East,They go West”like this long time already.Because,Obama,Mr Ban and all EU leaders have been scaring Dictator groups in Burma.Major Sai Thein Win said too late that Dictators have a plan to produce Nuclear Bomb.But,they had owned nearly 60% now.How many times did dictators legally announce what did i do like that?After not more than next four years,they”ll own 100%.Then,China,Russia,N-Korea cann”t control Burmese Dictators and Burmese Dictators order back UN,US including EUcountries that “shut up yours mouth” for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,political prinsoners and “never interfere my country condition”.All leaders said “Yes Sir,” and we”ll lie much for Ko Than Shwe,Ko Mg Aye,Ko Shwe Mann,Ko Thein Sein and Ko Tin Aung Myint Oo.Because,Dictators”ll threaten that we”ll sell the Nuclear to Osama Bin Lar Din, Terrorist Groups and they”ll occupy Thailand,may be third world war”ll start from Burma.Must be soon and must be hear.We cann”t think a consideration for Burma future.
Thitsaphout Than Shwe has carefully staged managed this sham election, for his illegal regimes hold on power. But he hasn’t stage managed it well enough to stop a full scale military invasion. Which I admit is a very server action but a necessary one to preserve world peace, especially in light of Burma’s nuclear ambitions. The Un and the world have played around with this criminal Than Shwe long enough, now they must take action.
The new constitution of Burma says that the military will own all land, above the land and below as said by Dr.Nancy in our documentary “Last Line of Defence K.N.L.A.”…Torture victims…Rape as a weapon of war…Child soldiers interviews…88 generation shot down in its peaceful demonstration…Saffron front 2007 where the military opened fire on their own Buddhist Monks…Since the time of Buddha there has been a tradition, that Buddhist Monks could evoke those who have acted against the laws of Dharma…Buddhist Law…how exciting is this now? the Womens International League and the Karens Women Organization are taking their case of rape being used as a weapon of War against General Than Shewe to Haig International War crimes Tribunal. The U.S. now has backed the United Nations commission of inquiry into War Crimes in Burma. General Than Shewe is the new Pol Pot of Asia and will go down in history as discrace to his people. As Aung San Suu Kyi her self said. ” The people of Burma will not be handed their Independance on a plate it is something they will have to fight for.” Burma now needs a strong Military General to do the right thing on the behalf of the people of Burma (COUP)…Im Rod Power…book next month Amazon.Com “In Search of the Warrrior With-in and the Battle of the EGO.