Current Affairs
Burma's by-elections still short of international standards
~ From ALTSEAN-Burma ~
On 1 April, more than six million Burmese are eligible to go to the polls to elect less than 7% of the total number of seats in the National Parliament.
While the by-elections have limited political significance, they are important because they are being championed as an indicator of progress by the international community after the sham 2010 polls. Despite the hype, the bulk of laws and regulations that still govern Burma’s electoral process are the same as those applied in the widely-condemned 2010 elections.
In addition to the flawed election laws, the other obstacle towards holding free and fair elections is the regime’s handpicked Election Commission. The body, which oversees all aspects of the electoral process, has repeatedly failed to act in an impartial and independent manner.
Despite pledges that the by-elections will be free and fair, regime authorities and the Election Commission have repeatedly obstructed the NLD’s campaign activities. Widespread irregularities, threats, harassment, vote-buying, and censorship have marred the electoral process in the lead-up to voting day. In addition, the regime disenfranchised over 200,000 voters in Kachin State.
The regime’s eleventh hour decision to invite external election monitors is a public relations ploy that is ‘too little, too late’ to ensure adequate, effective, and independent monitoring of the electoral process.
________________________
Read the full report by ALTSEAN-Burma (Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma), a network of organisations and individuals based in ASEAN member states working to support the movement for human rights and democracy in Burma.
Headline photo by Nyein Chan Naing, courtesy of RationalSkepticism.org
________________________

- Opinion1 week ago
Shanmugam’s call to avoid politicising Nee Soon’s kickback case exposes hypocrisy given his 2015 attack on WP
- Politics1 week ago
Shanmugam defends response in kickback scandal at Nee Soon Town Council
- Singapore1 week ago
SM Lee urges Singaporeans to embrace new citizens for national unity during Chinese New Year speech
- Singapore4 days ago
Former transport minister S. Iswaran placed on home detention scheme after serving part of jail term
- Singapore1 week ago
Healthcare worker’s death sparks public dispute between TTSH and Red Dot United’s Ravi Philemon
- Politics1 week ago
Foreign family members of candidates exempted from election participation rule in Singapore
- Court Cases4 days ago
Ong Beng Seng diagnosed with bone marrow cancer amid ongoing charges linked to ex-minister S Iswaran
- Parliament5 days ago
Indranee Rajah backtracks on claim divorcing applicants face no HDB rental hurdles