21-27 June: Junta’s Handpicked Election Commission Issues Unjust Directive

On 21 June, the military regime’s handpicked Union Election Commission issued a directive banning marching, holding flags and chanting during political parties’ campaigning rallies. Parties wishing to hold a public event or speech must seek approval from a local sub-commission at least one week in advance. Speeches and publications must not criticize the Union of Myanmar, the constitution or the Tatmadaw (armed forces), disrupt security and peace, or provoke discussion of racial or religious affairs or individuals. The directive also threatens that action will be taken against those parties who fail to adhere to the new regulations or the Political Parties Registration Law. Read the full directive.

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) criticized the directive as a violation of human rights. “The ruling side is trying to use this regulation to prevent people, political parties and candidates from expressing their agenda. They don’t want people to know what is the political agenda of other parties,” said ANFREL media officer and political columnist, Bidhayak Das.

This directive is the latest of the military regime’s unjust laws and restrictions on political parties that will make it impossible to campaign freely in these elections. Meanwhile, the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is offering bribes to residents in Puta-O Township in Northern Kachin State in exchange for their vote, with no reprimand from the Union Election Commission. Such outright favoring of pro-junta political parties in both election laws and actions has already led the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other ethnic political parties to refuse to participate in this year’s elections. Further examples of unfair electioneering including adding villagers to USDP members lists without their knowledge, issuing identification cards to Rohingya people in exchange for their vote for the USDP, and the Election Commission’s ongoing failure to approve the Kachin State Progressive Party, make it blatantly clear that these elections will not in any way be free or fair. And yet the US stands alone in its declaration last week that the elections “will not be free or fair and will lack international legitimacy.”

There is already more than enough evidence to show these elections are not an opportunity for democratic progress in Burma. International bodies and governments around the world must publicly denounce these elections for what they are: an undemocratic charade aimed at securing the military’s control behind a new civilian face.

News Highlights

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi receives the first Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Award for democracy, human rights, and improvement of the status of women, named after Pakistan’s assassinated prime minister

Thai government cracks down on migrant workers, arresting more than 1,000 people, including over 600 from Burma

Inside Burma

U Win Tin and NLD leaders travel to regional offices in several states to meet with members

Assistant of US Senator John Kerry, Robin Lerner, meets with senior members of the NLD to discuss the party’s stance on upcoming elections

National Democratic Force says that the boycott of elections by the NLD is meaningless and will only aid the military regime

Some registered political parties admit that the elections will be unfair, but will participate “to help the people understand the political process”

Election Commission approves two parties from Arakan State: Kaman National Progressive Party and the Khami National Development

Military officials have been interrogating political prisoners about their opinions of the elections and their intentions to continue political activities after their release
North Korean-made rocket systems have been set up at military bases in Kachin State, Shan State and Mandalay Division

Military regime responds to IAEA query about nuclear program that allegations are “groundless and unfounded”

Two more Army officers have defected following Maj Sai Thein Win, who exposed the junta’s nuclear weapons program

Military has told the United Wa State that its Border Guard Force program will be discussed after the new government is formed

Regime rejects an application to form a national labour union, telling seven labor organizers that they could be prosecuted if they continue their activities

Prime Minister Thein Sein arrives in Arakan State to distribute relief to flood victims; local shopkeepers report that rice and goods were borrowed by officials to present as relief

Lawyer accuses court of violating domestic law for holding Phyo Wei Aung, allegedly behind Thingyan bombings, without charge and denying him legal aid

Regional

Aid group on the Thai-Burma border says that supplies to refugees camps will be reduced

Thirty-one Rohingya refugees are entering the 10th day of a hunger strike in protest at the Australian government’s delay in processing their asylum claims

International

Foreign Policy magazine ranked Senior General Than Shwe the third worst in the world in their “Worst of the Worst” special feature behind Robert Mugabe and Kim Jong Il

FIFA president will visit Burma in November to see a football training academy to which the associated donated US$400,000 in funding

Activists don’t expect a big shift on Burma in Australia’s foreign policy under Julia Gillard, the country’s first woman prime minister

A staff member at Burma’s permanent mission to the UN in New York kicks aside flowers and angrily steps on an image of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest on her birthday

Latest from the Elections Campaign

Resounding International Support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her 65th Birthday
By Burma Partnership

Demonstration in Brussels for Aung San Suu Kyi’s Birthday
By Actions Birmanie

ASEAN Parliamentarians Send Birthday Wishes to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
By ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus

Actions

Posters and pamphlets against the elections are being posted and distributed in Myitkyina, Kachin State

Human Rights Watch holds event in Grand Central Station in New York City to call for the release of over 2,100 political prisoners in Burma

Opinion

Burma’s nuclear ambition is apparently real and alarming
By Robert Kelly
The Nation

Aung San Suu Kyi’s unhappy birthday
By Irwin Cotler
The Globe and Mail

Suu Kyi needs more than just tributes
Asia News Network

Statements and Press Releases

VIC ALP calls for sanctions on Burma
By Burma Campaign Australia

UN Must Act On G8 Call For Burma Dictatorship To Enter Into Dialogue
By Burma Campaign UK

New Report On Crimes Against Humanity Against Rohingyas Strengthens Case For UN Inquiry
By Burma Campaign UK

Chinese Monywa deal leaves questions about Ivanhoe’s role unanswered
By Canadian Friends of Burma

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 65th Birthday Statement
By Chiang Mai-based organizations

First-Ever Biography of Burmese Dictator Than Shwe Launched by CSW’s Burma Specialist
By Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Crimes Against Humanity Committed Against Rohingyas in Western Burma, Irish Human Rights Centre’ Report Concludes
By the Irish Centre for Human Rights

Nonviolence International Wishes Daw Aung San Suu Kyi a Bittersweet Birthday
By Nonviolence International

Government of Canada is urged to support “Commission of Inquiry” on Burma
By Parliamentary Friends of Burma and Canadian Friends of Burma

Peoples’ Tribunal on Crimes against Women of Burma (Japan)
By Women’s League of Burma and Human Rights Now

Reports

Crimes against Humanity in Western Burma: The Situation of the Rohingyas
By the Irish Centre for Human Rights

Weekly Political Events Regarding the SPDC’s Election (021-2010) (in Burmese and in English)
By Network for Democracy and Development

Weekly Political Events Regarding the SPDC’s Election (022-2010) (in Burmese)
By Network for Democracy and Development

This post is in: Weekly Highlights