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Myanmar hopes for end to military rule as NLD looks set for poll win Myanmar hopes for end to military rule as NLD looks set for poll win
(35 minutes later)
Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters celebrated outside her party’s headquarters late on Monday as Myanmar’s official electoral commission announced that the opposition wwas leading in nearly all the districts where votes had been counted in the country’s first free elections in decades. Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters were celebrating outside her party’s headquarters as Myanmar’s official electoral commission announced that the opposition was leading in nearly all the districts where votes had been counted in the country’s first free elections in decades.
Related: Myanmar's decision is clear. But will the military let Aung San Suu Kyi govern?Related: Myanmar's decision is clear. But will the military let Aung San Suu Kyi govern?
The ruling party chairman had earlier conceded heavy losses, putting the country on course to end more than 50 years of dominance by authoritarian army generals and their handpicked politicians. The ruling party chairman had conceded heavy losses earlier on Monday, putting the country on course to end more than 50 years of dominance by authoritarian army generals and their handpicked politicians.
As the results were gradually announced, followers of the National League for Democracy (NLD) partied for the second night in a row in Yangon, formally known as Rangoon.As the results were gradually announced, followers of the National League for Democracy (NLD) partied for the second night in a row in Yangon, formally known as Rangoon.
Street vendors sold red flags with golden peacocks, the NLD’s emblem, and stickers that people stuck on their faces. Parents hoisted children wearing red headbands onto parked cars to get a better view over the crowds. Teenagers snacked on chunks of pineapple and melon. Street vendors sold red flags with golden peacocks, the NLD’s emblem, and stickers that people stuck on their faces. Parents hoisted children wearing red headbands on to parked cars to get a better view over the crowds. Teenagers snacked on chunks of pineapple and melon.
Huge screens broadcast the results tallied by NLD officials, who have been monitoring the count at polling stations since they closed on Sunday.Huge screens broadcast the results tallied by NLD officials, who have been monitoring the count at polling stations since they closed on Sunday.
NLD supporters cheer as votes come in. Myanmar. pic.twitter.com/wZF7FoMuqpNLD supporters cheer as votes come in. Myanmar. pic.twitter.com/wZF7FoMuqp
The party announced that it had won almost every seat in the four states where results had been counted. It said it had won 98 of the 108 seats tallied so far in the lower house of parliament and all of the 46 upper house seats it had finished counting.The party announced that it had won almost every seat in the four states where results had been counted. It said it had won 98 of the 108 seats tallied so far in the lower house of parliament and all of the 46 upper house seats it had finished counting.
U Win Htein, the NLD’s spokesman, tsaid earlier on Monday, that “according to our initial information collected from townships, we are winning by 80%”. U Win Htein, the NLD’s spokesman, said earlier on Monday, that “according to our initial information collected from townships, we are winning by 80%”.
Myanmar’s official electoral commission has been releasing results more slowly and has not the NLD’s gains, but those it has declared also suggest that the opposition is heading towards a monumental victory. Myanmar’s official electoral commission has been releasing results more slowly and has not confirmed the NLD’s gains, but those it has declared also suggest that the opposition is heading towards a monumental victory.
Related: Why Aung San Suu Kyi’s ‘Mandela moment’ is a victory for Myanmar’s generals | Maung ZarniRelated: Why Aung San Suu Kyi’s ‘Mandela moment’ is a victory for Myanmar’s generals | Maung Zarni
As of 10pm local time (1530 GMT), the commission said the NLD had won 25 seats and the ruling party two, all of them in the lower house. Hundreds more results are still to be declared.As of 10pm local time (1530 GMT), the commission said the NLD had won 25 seats and the ruling party two, all of them in the lower house. Hundreds more results are still to be declared.
People of all ages, many carrying children on their shoulders and some standing next to their bicycles, celebrated as if the final count was already in, even though it could take days for the commission to formally declare a winner given the current pace of announcements. People of all ages celebrated as if the final count was already in, even though it could take days for the commission to formally declare a winner given the current pace of announcements.
At the NLD rally, Kyaw Zaw Shwe, 48, said he had left Myanmar for Singapore five years ago in search of a better salary as a chemical engineer, but had come back to vote. At the NLD rally, Kyaw Zaw Shwe, 48, said he had left Myanmar for Singapore five years ago in search of a better salary as a chemical engineer but had come back to vote.
Kids on cars driving through Myanmar NLD rally. pic.twitter.com/g7TKOMjG3wKids on cars driving through Myanmar NLD rally. pic.twitter.com/g7TKOMjG3w
“There has been no change in the past five years,” he said, when asked about political reforms the quasi-civilian government that took over from the military junta has implemented.“There has been no change in the past five years,” he said, when asked about political reforms the quasi-civilian government that took over from the military junta has implemented.
“I voted in the 1990 election,” he said, referring to polls that the NLD won only for the generals to annul them. “In 1990, we kept quiet. We celebrated but amongst ourselves,” he said, looking at the crowds, a rare sight in the country during decades of oppressive rule. “I voted in the 1990 election,” he said, referring to polls that the NLD won only for the generals to annul them. “In 1990, we kept quiet. We celebrated but amongst ourselves,” he said, looking at the crowds, a rare sight in the country during decades of oppressive rule. “Aung San Suu Kyi can lead. I believe in her. The past five years she’s been working on renovating the Rangoon hospital.”
“Aung San Suu Kyi can lead. I believe in her. The past five years she’s been working on renovating the Rangoon hospital,” he said.
Kyaw Zaw Shwe was interrupted as another man, wearing an NLD flag as a cape, walked over to him. “Hello!” the man shouted, identifying himself as Myo Min Win. “We were friends in Singapore because I worked there too,” he said. “We haven’t seen each other for years.”Kyaw Zaw Shwe was interrupted as another man, wearing an NLD flag as a cape, walked over to him. “Hello!” the man shouted, identifying himself as Myo Min Win. “We were friends in Singapore because I worked there too,” he said. “We haven’t seen each other for years.”
They began discussing the election enthusiastically, the giant screens casting a red glow over them as they shouted above NLD songs. “I’m only 34, so I wasn’t old enough in 1990 to vote. This is the first time for me,” Myo Min Win said.They began discussing the election enthusiastically, the giant screens casting a red glow over them as they shouted above NLD songs. “I’m only 34, so I wasn’t old enough in 1990 to vote. This is the first time for me,” Myo Min Win said.
Foreign tourists also joined to rally, many taking photos and some wearing NLD T-shirts. Foreign tourists also joined the rally, many taking photos and some wearing NLD T-shirts.
The official Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said that of the country’s 30 million eligible voters, an estimated 70% had turned out to vote.The official Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said that of the country’s 30 million eligible voters, an estimated 70% had turned out to vote.
Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize laureate, spent much of the past 25 years under house arrest and the current constitution, drafted by the junta, still bars her from the presidency.Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize laureate, spent much of the past 25 years under house arrest and the current constitution, drafted by the junta, still bars her from the presidency.
The country’s commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, said there was no reason not to accept the election results, according to state media.The country’s commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, said there was no reason not to accept the election results, according to state media.
Related: Myanmar elections: strong start for Aung San Suu Kyi's party as first seats declared - liveRelated: Myanmar elections: strong start for Aung San Suu Kyi's party as first seats declared - live
About 10,000 monitors acted as observers to the election, many of them from the EU and UN, and their early indications were that the process had been largely transparent.About 10,000 monitors acted as observers to the election, many of them from the EU and UN, and their early indications were that the process had been largely transparent.
That said, the main concerns about fairness were raised before election day. An estimated 4 million people living abroad were unable to vote and a million Rohingya Muslims, a stateless and persecuted minority, were also excluded.That said, the main concerns about fairness were raised before election day. An estimated 4 million people living abroad were unable to vote and a million Rohingya Muslims, a stateless and persecuted minority, were also excluded.
The army has also enshrined its power in the constitution, reserving 25% of the seats in parliament and keeping the most powerful ministerial portfolios for themselves. Aung San Suu Kyi has promised to amend a constitution she has denounced as “very silly”.The army has also enshrined its power in the constitution, reserving 25% of the seats in parliament and keeping the most powerful ministerial portfolios for themselves. Aung San Suu Kyi has promised to amend a constitution she has denounced as “very silly”.
Given the military’s guaranteed blocs in parliament, the NLD must take 67% of the contested seats to win a majority. If it succeeds and forms a government, it will be the first democratically elected administration since the early 1960s.Given the military’s guaranteed blocs in parliament, the NLD must take 67% of the contested seats to win a majority. If it succeeds and forms a government, it will be the first democratically elected administration since the early 1960s.
The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) conceded that it has sustained significant losses. The party’s acting chairman, Htay Oo, who said he lost his own seat, said “We have a higher percentage of losses than wins.”The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) conceded that it has sustained significant losses. The party’s acting chairman, Htay Oo, who said he lost his own seat, said “We have a higher percentage of losses than wins.”