Neither Free Nor Fair: Burma’s Predetermined Elections

By Burma Partnership • November 8, 2010

Burma’s elections yesterday were marked by fraudulent activities, a notably low voter turnout, and an overall skepticism that these polls would bring any real change to people’s lives. Despite crippling media restrictions and a ban on international election monitors in Burma, over the course of the last two days there has been substantial and mounting evidence of significant elections-related violations emerging from the country. While these violations undermine the credibility of the elections, they have not been unexpected based on the pre-election conditions. Long before election day, it was evident that the military regime had failed to create the necessary conditions for these elections to accurately represent the will of the people.

Restrictive election laws, tightly controlled campaigning, vote buying, questionable advance vote collection, intimidation and threats set the stage for yesterday’s elections. From inside reports Burma Partnership received through individual citizens and activist networks, there has been a clear sense of indifference and apathy towards the elections, evidenced by the low voter turnout seen throughout the country. People expressed that they held little hope that the elections would bring any improvement to their daily lives, while others believed that the results were a foregone conclusion. One resident in Mon State said, “The people aren’t keen on voting. They’re just not interested. They know their votes will not change anything.”

Official nationwide results of the polls have yet to be announced, however, winners have been declared in some constituencies. The junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has already confirmed victories in 55 uncontested constituencies, as well as half a dozen in Naypyidaw contested by former military generals. The USDP has also reportedly won 90 of 91 constituencies in Mandalay and 103 of 105 in Irrawaddy Division. The National Democratic Force, the Shan Nationals Democratic Party, the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, and the Inn National Development Party have each won a handful of seats, a small comparison to those that have already been called for the USDP.

The USDP’s lead in the polls is not surprising given the substantial reports of elections violations that have emerged in the last two days. Media, citizens, and inside networks have reported incidents of ballot stuffing, unsecure ballot boxes, flawed voter lists, lack of secret voting processes, and illegal campaigning. Many voters were also told how to vote by polling station staff or had their ballots cast in their name. Members of the USDP interfered in many polling stations, taking on roles and responsibilities prohibited in the election laws.

While reports indicated that the vast majority of eligible voters did not participate, some made efforts to show their discontent with the regime’s elections. Burma Partnership received reports of people writing in the name of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on their ballots. Others went to polling stations to witness the voting conditions and then purposefully spoiled their votes.

Information continues to emerge of election-related violations and brave acts of resistance via internet, phone and messenger, at great personal risk to those sharing it with their fellow citizens and the rest of the world. Burma Partnership will continue to collect this information on the Burma Election Tracker website in the next hours and days in order to present a clearer picture of how the elections have unfolded.

Today’s coverage on the Burma Election Tracker site focused on the election-related violence that has erupted in the Thai-Burma border town of Myawaddy. A breakaway faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), which refused to join the military regime’s Border Guard Force, has taken control of the town. DKBA’s 5th Brigade battalion commander told the Democratic Voice of Burma yesterday in an interview that they went to the town because citizens had asked them for protection from forced voting. Fighting between DKBA and SPDC troops is sporadic but ongoing, having already caused as many as 30,000 people to flee into Thailand. Three civilian deaths have been confirmed and at least 30 have been injured and hospitalized. Late tonight, it was reported that 30 soldiers from both sides have been killed. Fighting is now spreading to other areas on the Thai-Burma border, including at Three Pagoda Pass.

The threat of increased conflict in eastern Burma illustrates another dimension of opposition to the military regime’s rule and their elections, which have proven to be entirely unrepresentative of the will of the people. Taken against the backdrop of undemocratic pre-election conditions and reports of widespread violations, the lack of willing public participation highlights how the people of Burma have already expressed their lack of trust and confidence in these elections. There is more than enough evidence at this time for the international community to resolutely denounce these elections as neither free nor fair.

Download our election briefer, “Neither Free Nor Fair: Election Day in Burma Marked by Low Voter Turnout, Fraud, and Insecure Voting” here.

Tags: 2010 Elections, Burma Election Tracker, Burma Partnership

This post is in: Blog

Neither Free Nor Fair: Burma’s Predetermined Elections

About Burma Partnership

Spotlight

Campaigns