Myanmar opposition apologizes for failing to achieve democracy

The Associated Press, April 06, 2010.

The party of detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Tuesday it was sorry it could not bring democracy to the country because of repression by the military government but it will continue its nonviolent struggle.

The National League for Democracy last week decided to boycott the first scheduled elections in two decades. It said the electoral laws imposed by the ruling junta, which would prevent Suu Kyi from taking part, were undemocratic.

Read more »

Slim hopes of fair vote

Straits Times, Mar 30, 2010.

SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA said on Tuesday that elections in Myanmar would only be fair if Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party can take part, and said meaningful change in the military-run state was now doubtful.

The National League for Democracy has refused to register for the vote expected later this year, after the military junta introduced a new election law that would have forced it to oust its detained leader.

'I don't believe that any election without the National League for Democracy can be a full, free and fair election,' Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told ABC Radio.

Read more »

Burma diplomacy failing: U.S. official

CBC News, March 12, 2010.

Washington's efforts to engage the military junta of Burma in dialogue aren't working, a senior U.S. official says, citing the regime's decision to bar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from upcoming elections.

U.S. assistant secretary of state Kurt Campbell said the administration of Barack Obama had hoped moving away from a policy of isolation would help in the push for democratic reform in Burma, also known as Myanmar.

But election laws released this week prohibiting Suu Kyi from running or even voting are a setback to efforts at real reform, he said.

Read more »

Myanmar polls 'devoid of credibility': US

(AFP) – Mar 9, 2010

WASHINGTON — The United States hit out Wednesday at Myanmar's military junta for excluding political prisoners from taking part in upcoming elections, saying the polls were now "devoid of credibility."

Under the new election laws unveiled Wednesday, Myanmar opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi faces exclusion from her own party and is barred from standing in the polls later this year.

Read more »

Sad but not unexpected

By Stephen Lillie, Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Posted date: March 02, 2010.


Burma’s Supreme Court has just rejected the appeal of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi against a verdict finding her guilty of violating the rules of her house arrest. The outcome is disappointing but not unexpected. The process was never about the rule of law or justice, and the trial itself was a sham. There was really no reason to think the appeal would be any better.

Read more »