Myanmar leader warns of election 'saboteurs'

YANGON, AFP News, May 01, 2010.

The head of Myanmar's ruling junta warned of "saboteurs" conspiring to derail the country's election due to be held later this year, state media reported Saturday.

General Than Shwe said "conspiracy saboteurs from inside and outside the country" were attempting to "harm the election", in a May Day address published in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

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Myanmar Junta Members Go Civilian

By SETH MYDANS, The New York Times, May 01, 2010.

BANGKOK — It is an obvious move when generals in a military junta decide to step aside in favor of civilian rule: shed military ranks and uniforms and transform themselves into civilians.

Last week, several cabinet members in Myanmar’s junta did a quick change, resigning from the armed forces, apparently in preparation for parliamentary elections expected later this year.

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Myanmar PM to form party

Straits Times, April 30, 2010.

MYANMAR'S prime minister, who recently retired from his military post, has applied to form a new political party ahead of rare elections expected later this year, state media reported on Friday.

Thein Sein and 26 others registered to form the 'Union Solidarity and Development Party' on Thursday at the election commission in the capital city of Naypyidaw, the Myanmar Ahlin and New Light of Myanmar newspapers said.

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MPs fight for right to exist in top court

Phanida, Mizzima News, April 30, 2010.

National League for Democracy members of Parliament on Thursday filed a lawsuit with Burma’s Supreme Court seeking a writ against dissolution of the party and to declare that the members of Parliament can still legally maintain their positions, party leaders said.

The NLD move was designed to head off its dissolution under the junta’s new political party registration law, which required parties to re-register within 60 days of May 6 or be dissolved as legal entities, a party spokesman said.

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Asean's leaders growing weary of intractable junta

Larry Jagan, Bangkok Post, 17/04/2010.

Every Asean summit for the last decade has been dominated by the Burma issue. Although discussions are usually on the sidelines and in confidential sessions, this year's meeting in Hanoi was no different. The only exception was that in the chairman's public statement at the end of the proceedings, Burma seemed to have got away unscathed. But Burma's hopes to take the Asean chair next year were completely dashed.

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