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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Report outlines regime’s post-Nargis ‘failure’

Thomas Maung Shwe, Mizzima News, April 29, 2010.

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A report just issued by New York-based Human Rights Watch sharply counters claims made by some that following Cyclone Nargis there was a general opening of space across Burma.

Human Rights Watch notes in its extensive research that despite making some significant gains in fixing areas severely affected by the cyclone the “Burmese government continues to deny basic freedoms and place undue restrictions on aid.”

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Strategic Report Suggests Long-range US-Burma Policy

By LALIT K. JHA, Irrawaddy News, March 30, 2010.

WASHINGTON—An Asia Society report by an independent panel of experts on Wednesday recommends that the Obama administration approach policy adjustments with careful consideration to encourage reform and democratic governance in Burma.

The report, titled “Current Realities and Future Possibilities in Burma/Myanmar: Options For US Policy,” is the first comprehensive critical analysis of the new Burma policy of the Obama administration that was unveiled by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton late last year.

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