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Formal Suu Kyi ban in Burma poll Formal Suu Kyi ban in Burma poll
(about 1 hour later)
Burma's military rulers have issued a law which will bar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in planned elections.Burma's military rulers have issued a law which will bar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in planned elections.
The new law prohibits anyone with a a criminal conviction from taking part.The new law prohibits anyone with a a criminal conviction from taking part.
Ms Suu Kyi was already excluded from political office by a clause in the constitution which bars people with foreign spouses.Ms Suu Kyi was already excluded from political office by a clause in the constitution which bars people with foreign spouses.
She has been detained for most of the past 20 years on various charges, after winning the last elections in 1990.She has been detained for most of the past 20 years on various charges, after winning the last elections in 1990.
The Political Parties Registration Law was published in official newspapers, in a series of daily announcements of laws intended to guide the elections. No date has yet been set for polls which the military intends to hold.The Political Parties Registration Law was published in official newspapers, in a series of daily announcements of laws intended to guide the elections. No date has yet been set for polls which the military intends to hold.
Credence doubt Stark choice
The BBC's South East Asia correspondent, Rachel Harvey, says Aung San Suu Kyi was already prevented from running for office under a provision in the military backed constitution.
Now it seems she will be prevented from leading her own party or playing any role in election campaigning.
Our correspondent says Ms Suu Kyi's, National League for Democracy Party now faces a stark choice: expel their own leader in order to participate in the elections or opt out and forego any further influence on the process.
She says the rules of the game are becoming clear. The question now is who will be willing to play.
Burmese leader, General Than Shwe, is blocking Suu Kyi from vote
"I have noticed that we have to expel Daw Suu. Their attitude is clear in this law," NLD spokesman Nyan Win told AFP.
"I was extremely surprised when I saw this, I did not think it would be so bad."
The election law bars anyone convicted in a court of law, members of religious orders and civil servants from joining political parties.The election law bars anyone convicted in a court of law, members of religious orders and civil servants from joining political parties.
It says that political parties have 60 days from Monday, when the law was promulgated, to register with an Election Committee whose members are to be appointed by the junta.It says that political parties have 60 days from Monday, when the law was promulgated, to register with an Election Committee whose members are to be appointed by the junta.
Credence doubt
The rules barring Ms Suu Kyi appear to fly in the face of recent calls by the US, European Union and Association of South East Asian Nations for the elections to be "inclusive".
The United States has reiterated its scepticism that any poll in which opposition figures are barred will have any credibility.The United States has reiterated its scepticism that any poll in which opposition figures are barred will have any credibility.
"We urge the authorities to begin a genuine political dialogue with all stakeholders as a first step towards credible elections," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters."We urge the authorities to begin a genuine political dialogue with all stakeholders as a first step towards credible elections," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
"We are concerned by the Burmese authorities' unilateral decision to begin releasing the election laws without first engaging in substantive dialogue with the democratic opposition or ethnic minority leaders," he said."We are concerned by the Burmese authorities' unilateral decision to begin releasing the election laws without first engaging in substantive dialogue with the democratic opposition or ethnic minority leaders," he said.
"We remain sceptical that the elections planned for this year will be credible," he added."We remain sceptical that the elections planned for this year will be credible," he added.
Regional and international human rights organisations have documented continued harassment, persecution and detention of government critics.Regional and international human rights organisations have documented continued harassment, persecution and detention of government critics.
Ms Suu Kyi was convicted last August of violating the terms of her house arrest by briefly sheltering an American who swam uninvited to her lakeside residence.
She was sentenced to a new term of house arrest that is to end this November; her latest appeal against that sentence was rejected by the Supreme Court last month.
The regime enacted five election-related laws on Monday, two of which have now been made public. Three more are to be unveiled in coming days.The regime enacted five election-related laws on Monday, two of which have now been made public. Three more are to be unveiled in coming days.
Critics say the elections, the first to be held in Burma for 20 years, will be a sham designed to entrench the military's grip on power.Critics say the elections, the first to be held in Burma for 20 years, will be a sham designed to entrench the military's grip on power.