Interview with Priscilla Clapp- Former Charge D’ Affaires of Burma

Priscilla Clapp- Former Charge D’Affaires of Burma and current Senior Adviser to Asia Society, joins VOA’s Khin Soe Win to talk about Burma’s new reforms and what these reforms could mean for the future of the country. She also speaks about the challenges that Burma has to face in building this new democracy -which she explains is more than just rhetoric. She says that Burma is no longer a one man top down system-meaning, that the military is no longer the primary rule. There are different branches that have to be built and established in a democracy and it will take some time.
English Version:

Burmese Version:

Burma’s Historic By-Election and the NLD Wins by a Land-Slide

Burma’s opposition party, the National League of Democracy won by a land slide in the historic by – elections on April 1st. The NLD won 43 out of 44 seats in parliament up for grabs. This is a milestone for Burma and its people where the lady of Burma, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who was under house arrest just over a year ago, was guaranteed a seat in Burma’s parliament.

Daw Suu made a victory speech at the NLD head quarters just after the announcement of her win, and in her speech she noted the irregularities and some of the illegal campaigning that she had seen, saying that it will not be over looked. Despite it all, the NLD and Daw Suu came out on top winning 43 out of the 44 seats in parliament.

She spoke in both Burmese and English. Here are the speeches:

English Version:

Burmese Version:

Burma’s Disbanded Opposition Party Celebrates Anniversary

– VOA News

Hundreds of members of Burma’s disbanded National League for Democracy gathered in the house of the opposition group’s second leader Tin Oo in Rangoon Monday to celebrate the founding of the NLD 22 years ago.

Many party members who took part in the ceremony were successful candidates in the 1990 election, in which Aung San Suu Ky’s NLD won a landslide victory.

The ruling military never recognized the results of that election and the party was not allowed to form a government.

NLD head Aung San Suu Kyi has been under some sort of detention for 14 of the last 20 years. Last week, officials added her name to a supplementary voters’ list, meaning she will be allowed to vote in elections on November 7. However, she told her supporters last month to boycott the polls.

Aung San Suu Kyi is still prohibited from being a candidate. Her party was effectively dissolved earlier this year after refusing to register for the elections, which it says are unfair.

The vote will elect 498 people to a national Parliament and another 664 will be spread among 14 regional legislatures.

Opposition parties say they have not been able to enter as many candidates as they want because of restrictive election laws and high registration fees.

The National Democratic Force, made up of former members of the NLD, says it will only be able to present about 140 candidates compared to the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, which will have candidates for all 1,162 seats.

Critics say the election is a sham and that the military shows little sign of giving up control.

Burmese Officials Indicate Suu Kyi Can Vote in Poll

– VOA News

AP photo: Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi

Burmese officials have added the name of imprisoned opposition leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi to a supplementary voters’ list, meaning she will be allowed to vote in elections on November 7.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate had been left off the list when it was first published on Monday.

That was in line with election rules that prohibit convicted prisoners from participating in the country’s first election in 20 years. But the decision prompted a wave of critical attention from international media.

A government official said Friday that Aung San Suu Kyi, whose current term of house arrest is due to expire later in November, will not be allowed to go outside on election day. But he suggested that authorities might take a ballot to her.

Aung San Suu Kyi still is prohibited from being a candidate. Her National League for Democracy party was effectively dissolved earlier this year after refusing to register for the elections, which it says are unfair.

The November 7 vote will elect 498 people to a national Parliament and another 664 will be spread among 14 regional legislatures.

Opposition parties say they have not been able to enter as many candidates as they want because of restrictive election laws and high registration fees.

The National Democratic Force, made up of former members of the NLD, says it will only be able to present about 140 candidates compared to the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, which will have candidates for all 1,162 seats.

Critics say the election is a sham and that the military shows little sign of giving up control.

Burma’s Military to NLD: DO NOT DISRUPT ELECTIONS

– VOA News

AP Photo: NLD

Burma’s military government has accused the party of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi of attempting to disrupt the upcoming election by urging voters to boycott it.

In the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper Saturday, a government commentator says the party is “attempting to mislead the people” by urging them to boycott the November 7 polls. The article threatened imprisonment for anyone caught trying to influence voters.

It did not specifically mention Aung San Suu Kyi or her National League for Democracy party. But the party has said it will boycott the election. It also said it plans to sue the government, which dissolved the NLD for failing to register on time to compete in the election. Nine other parties also were dissolved.

This is Burma’s first election in 20 years, but pro-democracy critics say the voting is a sham designed to ensure continued military control.

Aung San Suu Kyi has suggested that people who wanted to vote for her party should not vote at all.

The National League for Democracy won Burma’s 1990 election by a large margin. But the military never allowed it to take power.

New Rules for Upcoming Polls

AP Photo: Burmese citizens looking at the news paper on the election rules

The Burmese elections on Nov. 7th will be the first vote in 20 years within the country. The Burmese government published tough rules which forbid candidates to make speeches that will belittle the Burmese military government.

According to the State run newspaper, ” The New Light of Myanmar”, the elections would be ” free and fair”. Aside from not being able to make speeches that will tarnish the image of the military government, campaigners are not allowed to assemble and shout slogans. Candidates who do so will be fined and jailed for one year.

AP photo: NLD members wearing the NLD logo on their shirts

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League of Democracy withdrew itself from the elections long before the campaigning process began. Though they did not register, the NLD has said though that the group has not given up on their stance on democracy in Burma. According to the AP, NLD vice chairman, Tin Oo has stated, ” We decided to officially boycott the election because we believe that the 2008 constitution and the electoral laws do not guarantee democracy and human rights in the country.”