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9 – 15 August: International Community Responds to Election Date Announcement
By Burma Partnership • August 16, 2010As we reported on Friday, the regime’s election commission has announced the long-awaited poll date for the elections: November 7, 2010. The election commission also called on political parties to submit candidate lists in the next two weeks.
November 7 is exactly one week before Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s release. “[Burma’s ruling generals] are going to hold the election before the release of Aung San Suu Kyi because they want to marginalise her from any activities,” said NLD vice-chairman Tin Oo. “They don’t want any appearance by her during the run-up to the election, because the military junta is worried that most Burmese nationals would come out to follow her speeches.”
With the election date less than three months away, political parties are struggling to campaign under the regime’s tight restrictions. Due to the many campaign restrictions and unequal playing field, the National Democratic Front has resigned itself to campaigning as a “strong opposition force” rather than vying for a victory. Other political parties have faced similar limited political space. This week, the Democratic Party (Myanmar) has complained of intimation by intelligence personnel while on the campaign trail. The Shan National Democratic Party has also reported that they are having a hard time recruiting members due to intimidation by intelligence officers.
International governments and the United Nations have responded with concern to the election commission’s announcement. “This election cannot be inclusive or credible under current circumstances,” declared US State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner. UK, Canada, Australia and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued similar statements, voicing concerns about the undemocratic process in Burma. US Senator Mitch McConnell was even more candid: “Although the Burmese junta will characterize the charade it announced today as an election – an exercise that only the junta considers meaningful – November 7, 2010 will be just another day in Burma, marked by continued government oppression and hardship for its people.”
With Daw Suu still under house arrest, this choice of election date demonstrates yet again that the regime does not intend to suffer the same humiliating defeat as in the 1990 elections. The international community must not legitimize this farce of an election and allow the military regime to act simply in its own interests rather than those of the people of Burma. Governments must pledge to reject the results of these sham elections.
News Highlights
Inside Burma
Former UDP Chairman explains his decision for withdrawing from the elections
Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State inaugurates its head office in Myitkyina, Kachin State
Former Shan Prince declares that the 2010 elections will not bring democracy to Burma
USDP adds blackmail to their list of electioneering techniques in Rangoon and Mandalay
Soldiers continue to desert from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army in protest of the army’s decision to join the junta’s Border Guard Force (BGF); over 100 BGF soldiers in Shan State East desert as junta fails to honor promised BGF salaries or benefits
Junta expands military’s communications capabilities
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Thai State energy company PTTEP seeks partners in Burma petroleum project
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Quintana meets with democracy and ethnic groups in Mae Sot, Thailand; Shan group urges special rapporteur to pressure the junta to review cases of detained Shan political leaders
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