Week 35: 2010 Election Watch (2-8 November)

Developments

Widespread evidence of electoral fraud, irregularities, threats, harassment, and lack of independent monitoring characterized Election Day and the days leading up to it:

• In the days before the election, local SPDC officials, polling station officials, and Union Solidarity and Development (USDP) members throughout the country solicited advance and proxy votes, in the overwhelming majority of cases specifically for the USDP […]

Week 34: 2010 Election Watch (26 October – 1 November)

Developments

• NLD members distributed election boycott leaflets in Rangoon’s Insein and Mingaladon Townships. Riot police in Rangoon’s North Okkalapa Township surrounded “no-vote” campaigners as they attempted to distribute election boycott leaflets.
• Around 1,200 people from over 150 villages protested the elections in Ye and Thanbyuzayat Townships in Mon State and Kyainnseikyi Township in Karen State […]

Week 27: 2010 Election Watch (7-13 September)

Developments

• The Myanmar Democracy Congress and the Myanmar New Society Democratic Party failed to field at least three candidates as required by the SPDC election laws. Myanmar Democracy Congress General Secretary Kaung Htet announced that the party would boycott the upcoming elections because of the SPDC Election Commission’s “unacceptable and unsatisfactory” actions […]

Week 26: 2010 Election Watch (31 August – 6 September)

Developments

• The Zomi National Congress and the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament decided to boycott the elections.
• SPDC authorities in Dala Township, Rangoon Division, briefly detained an NLD organizer for distributing leaflets that urged people not to vote in the elections […]

Week 24: 2010 Election Watch (17-23 August)

Developments

• The SPDC Election Commission published Notification 91/2010 which requires candidates to seek approval for public speeches seven days in advance.. In addition, candidates cannot give speeches or distribute materials that criticize the constitution, “tarnish” the image of the state or the military, or “harm security. As with earlier regulations on campaign activities, chanting slogans, marching or carrying flags are prohibited as part of candidate rallies […]