Myanmar - News Archive

Burma ex-NLD group to run in poll

Posted: 07/12/2010
A splinter group from Burma's pro-democracy party the NLD is registered to run in controversial elections.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Asia-Pacific | World Edition

Myanmar opposition splinters

Posted: 07/10/2010
In Myanmar last week, the National Democratic Force (NDF), a breakaway faction of the country’s main pro-democracy party, The National League for Democracy (NLD), registered to contest elections later this year. The NLD, led by democracy advocate Aung San SUU KYI, is boycotting the poll, which it believes will be rigged. SUU KYI expressed disappointment with the new NDF and its decision to contest the election. The NLD is also upset that the National Democratic Force is using a similar symbol to its own party logo. The Myanmar government has not announced a formal date for the election, which will be the country’s first since 1990. During that election, the NLD won a resounding victory, but the ruling military junta refused to respect the results.

Source: ElectionGuide

Junta Members Resign To Boost Parliamentary Share

Posted: 04/29/2010
Burmese Prime Minister THEIN SEIN and 20 other ministers resigned their military posts this week so they can run in the country's upcoming elections. The move will allow them to contest seats other than those reserved to the military. Burma's junta has certified five of 19 groups seeking to compete as political parties. The ruling military junta has also refused to allow opposition leader Aung San SUU KYI to participate, and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), is boycotting the polls. While there is no official date for the elections, Senior General THAN SHWE says one is coming soon. This will be Burma's first election since 1990, when the military government refused to recognize a NLD win. SUU KYI has been under house arrest for 14 of the past 20 years.

Source: ElectionGuide

Burmese Junta Bans Many Opposition Candidates From Forthcoming Polls

Posted: 03/10/2010
Hopes for free and fair elections in Myanmar faded on Wednesday as the military government banned many opposition figures from standing for office. The new Political Parties Registration Law bars candidacy by any convicted citizen, including more than 2,000 political prisoners. They include several members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and its leader AUNG SAN Suu Kyi, who has spent nearly three-fourths of the last two decades under house arrest. Some NLD memebers say a regulation permitting them to reopen offices is meaningless without AUNG SAN'S participation. Myanmar, also known as Burma, last held democratic elections in 1990. A military government that assumed power in 1988 refused to accept their results.

Source: ElectionGuide

Myanmar sentences Suu Kyi to more house arrest

Posted: 08/11/2009
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- A Myanmar court convicted Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday of violating her house arrest by allowing an uninvited American to stay at her home. The head of the military-ruled country ordered the democracy leader to serve an 18-month sentence under house arrest....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Suu Kyi verdict 'set for Friday'

Posted: 07/28/2009
The court in the trial of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will deliver its verdict on Friday, her lawyer says.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Opposition members arrested in Myanmar

Posted: 07/20/2009
About 20 members of Myanmar's opposition were arrested Sunday while observing Martyr's Day, a party spokesman said.

Read full story. Source: CNN.com - WORLD

Aid and Perhaps More Spreading in Myanmar Delta

Posted: 07/14/2009
Diplomats and aid workers here hope that small slivers of democratic sunshine are filtering into an otherwise dark, repressive corner of Southeast Asia

Read full story. Source: NYT > Asia Pacific

U.N. chief urges Myanmar to hold 'fair' election

Posted: 07/14/2009
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Myanmar authorities that they must deliver on a "free and fair" election in 2010.

Read full story. Source: CNN.com - WORLD

UN Pressures Myanmar For Fair Elections

Posted: 07/14/2009
United Nations Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon has called on the government of Myanmar to hold “free and fair” elections in 2010. According to the country’s Permanent Representative at the UN, Myanmar plans to release an unstated number of political prisoners in advance of the polls. The military government, however, refused BAN a meeting with pro-democracy activist Aung San SUU KYI, repeatedly under house arrest during the last 19 years.

Source: ElectionGuide

Myanmar rulers must deliver on free poll pledge - UN chief

Posted: 07/13/2009
UN chief Ban Ki-moon today warned Myanmar's military rulers that they must deliver on their pledge to ensure "inclusive, free and fair" elections next year.

Read full story. Source: Times of India

Myanmar opposition leader to stand trial again

Posted: 05/14/2009
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was charged Thursday with violating the terms of her house arrest after an American man swam across a lake to sneak into her home, her lawyer said....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Vote was something to endure for cyclone victims

Posted: 05/29/2008
Villagers and city residents report leaders or bosses filled in their ballots for them.

Read full story. Source: Asia - Pacific - International Herald Tribune

Burma 'approves constitution'

Posted: 05/15/2008
More than 90% of Burmese voters approve a new constitution in a referendum, state media say.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Myanmar Referendum to Proceed Despite Cyclone

Posted: 05/08/2008
Military rulers announced Tuesday that the constitutional referendum in Myanmar will proceed as planned on Saturday, despite the deadly cyclone that ravaged the southern region of the country last weekend. The referendum will be the first election held in over two decades in Myanmar. The government announced the referendum will still take place in all but the 47 townships hardest hit by the cyclone, and these will vote two weeks later. Pro-democracy opposition groups have stated it is unacceptable to hold a referendum under these circumstances. The draft constitution is the result of a 14-year National Convention and was released one month before the scheduled referendum. The 194-page document is written in Burmese and English; however, many citizens are ethnic minorities who do not speak either language. The referendum comes just 8 months after nationwide pro-democracy protests in September were stopped with military force, and days after the cyclone left widespread destruction and, according to some reports, up to 100,000 people dead. Aid from the military rulers has been slow to reach the victims and international aid groups are having trouble receiving permission and access to the country.

Source: ElectionGuide

Myanmar rejects vote observers

Posted: 03/11/2008
The decision represents the latest roadblock for Ibrahim Gambari, the United Nations special envoy, in his mission to promote democratization in the country.

Read full story. Source: Asia - Pacific - International Herald Tribune

Burmese junta choose stand-in PM

Posted: 05/18/2007
Burma names a senior army officer as a temporary replacement for sick Prime Minster General Soe Win.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Burma to start constitution talks

Posted: 09/02/2006
The military government in Burma says it will restart talks next month on a new constitution.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Asia-Pacific | World Edition

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