People Begin to Flee Homes Under Threat of Civil War

The situation in north-eastern Burma is becoming increasingly tense and unstable as yet another set of deadlines pass, by which ethnic ceasefire groups were supposed to join the junta’s Border Guard Force (BGF) under the command of the SPDC Army. On 25 April, the National Democratic Front, made up of 8 ethnic armed groups, released a statement rejecting the BGF proposal and demanding that the junta end its military operations and intimidations in ethnic areas. The Kachin Independence Organization/Army, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA, aka Mongla) also remain resolute in their opposition to the junta’s proposal and stand by their counter proposals, which have been dismissed by the regime.[…]

Weekly Political Events Regarding the SPDC’s Election (014-2010)

The Network for Democracy and Development (NDD), a Burmese political organization based on the Thai-Burma border, is researching and distributing weekly reports summarizing political events in Burma regarding the SPDC’s Elections. These reports include information on the activities of the SPDC and USDA, opposition groups, armed ethnic groups, cease-fire groups, border guard forces, international governments and non-governmental organizations, and civilians inside Burma.[…]

The Economy of Burma/Myanmar on the Eve of the 2010 Elections

This report examines the economy of Burma at a crucial moment in Southeast Asia’s most troubled country. A low-intensity conflict based on ethnic and religious differences has simmered since independence in 1948. The country’s military rulers have been waging an existential struggle with a democratic movement led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi since they repudiated her party’s election victory in 1990. Before the end of 2010, an election will be held that is more about transferring power to a new generation of military officers than making a transition to civilian rule. To focus attention on the economic dimension of peacebuilding in Burma, this report draws on the discussion at a day-long workshop sponsored by USIP’s Center for Sustainable Economies. The workshop brought together experts on key aspects of Burma’s economy and employees from congress and U.S. government departments and agencies directly concerned with U.S. relations with Burma. The workshop sessions focused on macroeconomic policy, the extractive sectors, agriculture, the private sector, trade and investment, and the narcotics economy […]

Myths Vs Realities: Burma’s 2010 Elections

A paper that addresses some of the myths surrounding Burma’s 2010 elections and the 2008 Constitution.

Available in English and Burmese.

Burma’s premier registers party to contest upcoming polls

Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein on Thursday registered a new political party to contest a general election scheduled at an unspecified date this year, state media reports said.

Thein Sein and 27 other ministers and deputy ministers have joined the Union Solidarity and Development Party to contest the polls, Myanmar TV announced.[…]

Activists Hold Seminar at Swedish Parliament on Burma’s Elections

On April 22, Debbie Stothard (Altsean Burma), Aung Moe Zaw (Democratic Party for a New Society) and Min Min (ex-political prisoner representing Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma) visited the Swedish parliament to give an update about the situation in Burma leading up to the junta’s elections later this year. At the seminar, the three panelists stressed the importance of Sweden and the EU not recognizing the electoral process or its outcome […]

Burma’s Democracy and Ethnic Rights Movement Welcomes European Union Statement on Elections and Call for Dialogue

The Ten Alliances of Burma’s democracy and ethnic rights movement expressed support for the European Union’s renewal of its Common Position on Burma for another year, which also extended economic sanctions on the military regime […]

Burma’s Generals Begin Transition to ‘Civilian’ Dictatorship

Responding to media reports that Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein and around 20 other military officers in government positions have resigned their military ranks, Burma Campaign UK described this as the beginning of the transition of Burma from a military to civilian dictatorship […]

Week 7: 2010 Election Watch (20 – 26 April)

Developments

• The Chin National League for Democracy said it would not participate in the upcoming elections because the SPDC was dishonest.
• Three new political parties and one existing political party filed registration papers to participate in the upcoming elections […]
  April 28, 2010  •  By Altsean-Burma  •  Tags: 2010 Elections, Altsean-Burma  •  Read more ➤

Singapore mentors Burma in sham elections

By Seelan Palay

As preparations for the sham elections in Burma get into full swing, it is not difficult to notice similarities in electoral practices between the Burmese generals in uniform and Singapore’s leaders in civilian clothes.

The Burmese regime is bending over backwards to stage the fraudulent elections while refusing to respect the results of the country’s polls in 1990 that led to the landslide victory for the National League for Democracy (NLD).[…]