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Aung San Suu Kyi delivers warning as Myanmar election campaign begins Aung San Suu Kyi issues monitoring appeal as Myanmar election campaign begins
(35 minutes later)
Campaigning for Myanmar’s first free general election has begun, with Aung San Suu Kyi warning that the world must scrutinise the November poll and, crucially, make sure that the results are respected. Campaigning for Myanmar’s general election began on Tuesday with Aung San Suu Kyi saying the world must scrutinise the November poll and ensure the results are respected.
“A smooth and tranquil transition is almost more important than a free and fair election,” Suu Kyi said in a video address posted on her Facebook page. “A smooth and tranquil transition is almost more important than a free and fair election,” Sshe said in a video address posted on her Facebook page.
Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which has been campaigning since 1988 for an end to military rule, is widely expected to win. But the party has bitter memories of its landslide victory in the 1990 general elections, which was ignored by the junta. Her National League for Democracy (NLD), which has been campaigning since 1988 for an end to military rule, is widely expected to win. The party has bitter memories, however, of its landslide victory in the 1990 general elections, which was ignored by the junta.
The NLD boycotted the next nationwide poll, which was not held until two decades later and also condemned by international observers for widespread irregularities. The NLD boycotted the next nationwide poll in 2010, which international observers also condemned for widespread irregularities.
“The general elections that will be taking place on 8 November in Burma will be a crucial turning point for our country. For the first time in decades, our people will have a real chance of bringing about real change,” Suu Kyi, who was brought up in India and studied at Oxford University, said in English. “The general elections that will be taking place on 8 November in Burma will be a crucial turning point for our country. For the first time in decades, our people will have a real chance of bringing about real change,” Aung San Suu Kyi said.
“This is a chance that we cannot afford to let slip. We hope that the whole world understands how important it is for us to have free and fair elections, and to make sure that the results of such elections are respected by all concerned,” the Nobel laureate said. “This is a chance that we cannot afford to let slip. We hope that the whole world understands how important it is for us to have free and fair elections, and to make sure that the results of such elections are respected by all concerned.
“Please help us by observing what happens before the elections, during the elections, and, crucially, after the elections.”“Please help us by observing what happens before the elections, during the elections, and, crucially, after the elections.”
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, emerged from international pariah status when a semi-civilian government took power four years ago after nearly half a century of military rule.
President Thein Sein, a former general, pushed through reforms that led to the dropping of western sanctions, and Barack Obama has visited the country twice in a clear display of approval.
The NLD and activists, however, say that many of the reforms have merely opened up the economy. The streets of the capital, Yangon, are filled with foreign cars driven by a growing middle class who own iPhones. KFC opened in June, the first major western fast-food chain to establish a presence in Myanmar.
Related: The Guardian view on the ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi’s political ally | EditorialRelated: The Guardian view on the ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi’s political ally | Editorial
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, emerged from international pariah status when a semi-civilian government took power four years ago and initiated a wave of change after nearly half a century of military rule.
President Thein Sein, a former general, pushed through reforms that led to the dropping of western sanctions. The US president, Barack Obama, has twice visited the south-east Asian country in a clear display of approval.
Yet the NLD and activists say many reforms have merely opened the economy. The streets of the capital, Yangon, are filled with foreign cars, driven by a growing middle-class who own iPhones. KFC opened in June, the first major western fast-food chain.
Political prisoners remain in jail, the media is strictly controlled and inequality is entrenched.Political prisoners remain in jail, the media is strictly controlled and inequality is entrenched.
The plea from Suu Kyi, who spent 15 years in detention, on the first day of her campaign comes in the wake of the shock purge last month of Shwe Mann, the speaker of the lower house of parliament and former chair of the ruling party. The plea from Aung San Suu Kyi on the first day of her campaign comes in the wake of the surprise purge last month of Shwe Mann, the speaker of the lower house of parliament and former chair of the ruling party.
He was considered a bridging figure between the democracy movement and the junta – a rare member of the establishment who was also an ally to the “Lady”, as Suu Kyi is known in Myanmar. He was considered a bridging figure between the democracy movement and the junta – a rare member of the establishment who was also an ally to the Lady, as Aung San Suu Kyi is known locally.
This meant he posed a distinct threat to the generals, who are historically paranoid by Suu Kyi’s domestic and international popularity and have tried to keep her at arms’ length, away from politics. This meant he posed a distinct threat to the generals, who have historically been paranoid of her domestic and international popularity and have tried to keep her at arms’ length and away from politics.
Shwe Mann’s swift removal from the ruling party will be seen as a reminder to Suu Kyi that the army is willing to take measures to ensure its dominance and may do so following an NLD win. The ruling Union Solidarity and Development party is effectively a political extension of the military. Shwe Mann’s swift removal will be seen as a reminder to the democracy movement that the army is willing to take measures to ensure its dominance and may do so following an NLD win. The party won 43 of 44 seats it contested in 2012 byelections.
About 30 million people are eligible to vote. Ninety parties are contesting the elections. The NLD won 43 of 44 seats it contested in a 2012 byelection. The ruling Union Solidarity and Development party is effectively a political extension of the military, and Aung San Suu Kyi’s request for the world to keep its eye on the country after the elections hints at concerns over the process of choosing the next president.
Suu Kyi’s request for the world to keep its eyes on the country after the elections hints at concerns over the process of choosing the next president. The general election is for seats in both houses of parliament for five-year terms. About 30 million people are eligible to vote, and 90 parties are contesting it. The military is guaranteed a quarter of the seats under the constitution it drafted.
The upcoming ballot is for seats in both houses of parliament for five-year terms. However, a leader will not be chosen until three months later when both houses – in which the military is guaranteed a quarter of the seats under the junta-drafted constitution – nominate two candidates. The army will also nominate a candidate. A leader will not be chosen until three months later after elected MPs have nominated two candidates. MPs appointed by the military nominate a third candidate, and then a parliamentary vote is held to determine who becomes president.
Parliament later votes on which of the three candidates will be president. An International Crisis Group report said the three months between the election and the appointment of the president “will be a time of considerable uncertainty, possible tension, and intense behind-the-scenes negotiation”.
A report by the International Crisis Group said the three months between the election and the presidential decision “will be a time of considerable uncertainty, possible tension, and intense behind-the-scenes negotiation”. “The commander-in-chief has voiced support for the democratic electoral process and has undoubtedly foreseen the prospect of strong support for the NLD. But this does not mean he would be comfortable with all the potential implications of such an outcome,” it said, in reference to the highly influential Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
“The commander-in-chief has voiced support for the democratic electoral process and has undoubtedly foreseen the prospect of strong support for the NLD. But this does not mean he would be comfortable with all the potential implications of such an outcome,” it said, referring to the hugely influential army chief Gen Min Aung Hlaing. Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from running for president because of a constitutional provision that excludes those with foreign children from the office. Her late husband was British and she has two British sons.
The NLD leader is barred from running for president because of a constitution provision excluding those with foreign children from the top office. Her late husband was British and she has two British sons. Aung San Suu Kyi was brought up in India and studied at Oxford University. Between 1989 and 2010, she spent 15 years under house arrest in Myanmar, and was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1991.
Further dampening hopes of reform, the election commission last month said that political parties and candidates were forbidden from criticising the military during their allocated 15-minute speeches on state media. Had her father not been a national hero have brought about Myanmar’s independence, she may have found her jailed like other pro-democracy activists.
Suu Kyi will spend the next two months travelling the country campaigning, mirroring days-long trips she made in 1989 during the nascent days of the democracy movement before the NLD was shut down. She will spend the next two months campaigning across the country, mirroring the trips she made in 1989 during the nascent days of the democracy movement before the NLD was shut down.
During the ensuing years, she was partly protected from being thrown into jail like other pro-democracy activists by the fact that her father is a national hero, having brought about the country’s independence. Myanmar’s electoral commission further dampened hope of reform last month, when it said political parties and candidates were forbidden from criticising the military during their allocated 15-minute speeches on state media.