Democracy News
Suu Kyi Opposes NLD’s Participation in Upcoming Election
March 24, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly
Detained National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi has announced that she opposes her party’s participation in Burma’s upcoming election. According to her lawyer Nyan Win, Suu Kyi stated that the NLD should “not even think” about participating in the election, citing that the new election laws are unreasonable, BBC News reports. The Burmese junta has not yet announced a definitive date, but did release the country’s new election laws – one of which states that individuals with criminal convictions cannot participate. The new election laws have come under international criticism, most notably the US has called the new laws a setback to facilitating political dialogue between the government and the people.
According to an article by AFP, Suu Kyi’s comments came after senior NLD officials met with the country’s Supreme Court to contest the new election laws. Court officials refused to accept the NLD’s complaints. While critics say that the upcoming junta election is a sham, NLD spokesman Khin Maung Swe stated that the party did not yet have an official stance about participating. Members’ opinions were said to be “not black or white.” If the NLD does take part, it will mean that the party will have to accept a 2008 referendum that it has previously refused to recognize. Further, if the NLD does not participate in elections, the party will cease to exist as an officially recognized political party according to these new election laws.
The NLD is scheduled to meet on March 29 to discuss whether or not the party should participate in the upcoming polls. While Suu Kyi is adamant that the NLD should abstain from the election, she stated that the party should come to its own independent decision. If the NLD does decide to take part, if will be at the loss of their top political leaders – many of which are barred because of previous political convictions.
Sources:
AFP - Myanmar's Suu Kyi against party 'registering for poll'
For previous news on Burma, please see:
http://ccd21.org/news/asia/burma_2010_election_law.html
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