By THE IRRAWADDY, January 18, 2010.A recent photograph received by The Irrawaddy shows that Burma's new complex of parliamentary buildings is still unfinished, prompting several observers to question whether they will be completed in time for the election scheduled for this year.
Hundreds of construction workers have been contracted to work on the massive project in Naypyidaw in central Burma, the site of the military regime's new capital, although an air of secrecy has constantly hovered over the project.
A Reuters correspondent who recently visited the construction site reported that it needs “much work to be done—from unfinished roads to painting many of the parliamentary complex's 31 buildings,” adding that the buildings' pagoda-style roofs are still sheathed in scaffolding.
The Burmese junta has announced plans to hold an election in 2010, but no date has been set so far. The Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun recently claimed the election will be held on Oct. 10–the somewhat auspicious date of 10/10/10– and cited an anonymous Burmese military official as the source.
No electoral law has been announced. Thailand's Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who met last week with Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win in Vietnam, said “60 to 70 percent” of the Burmese electoral laws had been completed.
Many observers, however, have said they believe the electoral law has already been written and is sitting in the desk of junta strongman Snr-Gen Than Shwe.
On tour in Asia recently, Nyan Win reaffirmed that the election will be held this year. During a discussion on the sidelines of a gathering of foreign ministers from Asia and Latin America in Tokyo, the Burmese foreign minister told his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada that the election in Burma will be open to all parties and people, and that he expected Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy to take part, the Japanese foreign ministry said.
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