Myanmar people welcome polls
Surprising announcement: Hawkers arranging newspaper at a roadside in Yangon yesterday. The Myanmar military announced that it would hold a constitutional referendum in May to set the stage for elections in 2010. Picture: AFP
Monday, February 11, 2008
PEOPLE in Myanmar yesterday welcomed the military government's promise of multi-party elections in 2010 as an opportunity to be seized, despite deep scepticism from opposition politicians and abroad.
"Just get on whatever horse you can catch. Then try to find better ones gradually," a retired professor said four months after the army crushed monk-led, pro-democracy protests, killing at least 31 people.
Roadside food vendor Aung Min, 28, was positively excited. "I can't wait to vote in an election," he said. But, he added: "The most important is all major parties should be allowed to run in it."
The junta's announcement of a May referendum followed by elections in 2010 on state television on Saturday night did not make clear whether detained opposition icon's Aung San Suu Kyi National League for Democracy would be allowed to take part.
The election would be the first held in the former Burma since 1990, when the NLD won a multi-party vote rejected by the military, which has ruled in various guises since 1962 and detained Suu Kyi for much of the interim.
The NLD was sceptical, asking how the junta could set an election date before knowing the outcome of the referendum.
"I can't help but wonder how the referendum will be conducted," NLD spokesman Nyan Win said.
The Burma Campaign UK, a pro-democracy group, dismissed the announcement as "public relations spin" and "nothing to do with democracy ".
"It is no coincidence that the announcement comes at a time when the regime is facing increasing economic sanctions following its brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations," Campaign director Mark Farmaner said in a statement.
Britain's Foreign Office called for the release of Suu Kyi and other detained political leaders to ensure a "genuine and inclusive process of national reconciliation ".
But people in Yangon felt it was a positive development in a country that has seen little of those over the decades.
"It's just like finding somewhere to live for the homeless. Of course it isn't the house of our choice, but it will give us some protection," a retired government officer said.
"We can expect at least a coalition government. That's far better than now," he added.
The professor said the NLD, which boycotted a national convention working out the principles for a "disciplined" democracy, should run in the election. Reuters
"Just get on whatever horse you can catch. Then try to find better ones gradually," a retired professor said four months after the army crushed monk-led, pro-democracy protests, killing at least 31 people.
Roadside food vendor Aung Min, 28, was positively excited. "I can't wait to vote in an election," he said. But, he added: "The most important is all major parties should be allowed to run in it."
The junta's announcement of a May referendum followed by elections in 2010 on state television on Saturday night did not make clear whether detained opposition icon's Aung San Suu Kyi National League for Democracy would be allowed to take part.
The election would be the first held in the former Burma since 1990, when the NLD won a multi-party vote rejected by the military, which has ruled in various guises since 1962 and detained Suu Kyi for much of the interim.
The NLD was sceptical, asking how the junta could set an election date before knowing the outcome of the referendum.
"I can't help but wonder how the referendum will be conducted," NLD spokesman Nyan Win said.
The Burma Campaign UK, a pro-democracy group, dismissed the announcement as "public relations spin" and "nothing to do with democracy ".
"It is no coincidence that the announcement comes at a time when the regime is facing increasing economic sanctions following its brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations," Campaign director Mark Farmaner said in a statement.
Britain's Foreign Office called for the release of Suu Kyi and other detained political leaders to ensure a "genuine and inclusive process of national reconciliation ".
But people in Yangon felt it was a positive development in a country that has seen little of those over the decades.
"It's just like finding somewhere to live for the homeless. Of course it isn't the house of our choice, but it will give us some protection," a retired government officer said.
"We can expect at least a coalition government. That's far better than now," he added.
The professor said the NLD, which boycotted a national convention working out the principles for a "disciplined" democracy, should run in the election. Reuters
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