Burma Holds First Election Since 1990
Baku, November 6 (AZERTAC). Burma is holding its first election in two decades Sunday - a vote that critics say is designed to keep the country`s military rulers in power through the facade of a civilian government.
Under the national constitution, Burma`s military leaders have reserved one-quarter of the seats in the national parliament for themselves. And the political party backed by the military has by far the largest slate - 1,112 candidates for 1,159 seats - in the national and regional parliamentary elections.
Human rights activists and Burma`s international critics say it was clear even before voting began that the election will be neither free nor fair nor inclusive.
Many activists from the banned National League for Democracy, which won the 1990 elections but was never allowed to take office, are in prison or under house arrest, barred from even voting this time. Among them is Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been confined by the military government for 15 of the past 20 years. She has asked supporters to boycott the election.
Up to 29 million Burmese are eligible to vote in the election. Even among those not involved in politics, activists say the government has used strong-arm pressure tactics to gain votes for candidates backed by the military.
Burmese officials have banned foreign observers and international media from entering the country to watch the voting, saying that enough diplomats and journalists are already in the country.
The military has ruled Burma for the last 50 years. Despite the National League for Democracy`s overwhelming electoral victory 20 years ago, the junta refused to cede power. The NLD party founded by Aung San Suu Kyi was dissolved earlier this year.
The Nobel laureate is scheduled to be released from house arrest six days after the election.
The outside world is skeptical of the election`s legitimacy, and the United States and Britain are nations that said they do not expect free elections under the junta`s rules. However, despite the widespread criticism of the state of human rights in Burma, some analysts say they think the voting might lead to initial steps toward a more democratic society.
Reports from rural areas where residents were forced to cast early ballots say there were reprisals for anyone cast ballots for the largest remaining opposition group, the National Democratic Force. One independent voter said he was ordered to collect 10 cartlaods of sand and repair a local road as punishment for his actions.
The National Unity Party, with 995 candidates, has the second biggest slate. It is linked to supporters of former military ruler, Ne Win, who ousted Burma`s last democratically elected leaders in 1962. The National Democratic Force is contesting only 164 seats.
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