This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8561354.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Burma laws condemned as 'mockery' | Burma laws condemned as 'mockery' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Election laws announced by Burma's military rulers have provoked a storm of condemnation. | Election laws announced by Burma's military rulers have provoked a storm of condemnation. |
| A US State Department spokesman, Philip Crowley, said they made a mockery of the democratic process. | |
| Burma has prohibited political prisoners - including the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi - from participating in forthcoming elections. | Burma has prohibited political prisoners - including the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi - from participating in forthcoming elections. |
| However, several offices of her National League for Democracy were re-opened for the first time since 2003. | However, several offices of her National League for Democracy were re-opened for the first time since 2003. |
| "Maybe they want to show some flexibility," said NLD spokesman Nyan Win, adding that about 100 branch offices had been reopened across the country, including several in the main city, Rangoon. | "Maybe they want to show some flexibility," said NLD spokesman Nyan Win, adding that about 100 branch offices had been reopened across the country, including several in the main city, Rangoon. |
| 'Farce' | 'Farce' |
| The government had sealed NLD branch offices with red wax after a deadly attack on Ms Suu Kyi's convoy by pro-regime elements on 30 May 2003. | The government had sealed NLD branch offices with red wax after a deadly attack on Ms Suu Kyi's convoy by pro-regime elements on 30 May 2003. |
| It's a complete farce and therefore contrary to their roadmap to democracy Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo | It's a complete farce and therefore contrary to their roadmap to democracy Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo |
| "Yes, it's a positive step," he said. "I think they want us to take part in the election, but we still haven't made up our mind about this. We still need to talk it over among the top leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi." | "Yes, it's a positive step," he said. "I think they want us to take part in the election, but we still haven't made up our mind about this. We still need to talk it over among the top leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi." |
| But he described the latest laws as "completely unacceptable". Not only do they bar Ms Suu Kyi, but require participants to follow the 2008 constitution, which the NLD rejects and campaigned against. "It's completely impossible for us," Nyan Win said. | But he described the latest laws as "completely unacceptable". Not only do they bar Ms Suu Kyi, but require participants to follow the 2008 constitution, which the NLD rejects and campaigned against. "It's completely impossible for us," Nyan Win said. |
| Condemnation came from one Asian neighbour, the Philippines, as well as from the US, the UN and Britain. | Condemnation came from one Asian neighbour, the Philippines, as well as from the US, the UN and Britain. |
| "Unless they release Aung San Suu Kyi and allow her and her party to participate in elections, it's a complete farce and therefore contrary to their roadmap to democracy," Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo told the Associated Press. | |
| The Philippines is a partner with Burma in Asean, whose 10 members rarely voice criticism of each other. | The Philippines is a partner with Burma in Asean, whose 10 members rarely voice criticism of each other. |
| Nyan Win said the NLD had not yet decided how to respond to the laws | Nyan Win said the NLD had not yet decided how to respond to the laws |
| "The political party registration law makes a mockery of the democratic process and ensures the upcoming election will be devoid of credibility," US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said. | "The political party registration law makes a mockery of the democratic process and ensures the upcoming election will be devoid of credibility," US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said. |
| "Our engagement with Burma will have to continue until we can make clear that... the results thus far are not what we had expected and that they're going to have to do better," he added. | "Our engagement with Burma will have to continue until we can make clear that... the results thus far are not what we had expected and that they're going to have to do better," he added. |
| Mr Obama met the Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein on the sidelines of a recent summit of the Association of South East Asean Nations (Asean). | Mr Obama met the Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein on the sidelines of a recent summit of the Association of South East Asean Nations (Asean). |
| Gun power | Gun power |
| The US and Asean had called for the planned elections top be free, fair and "inclusive" - code for the participation of Ms Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy which she leads. | The US and Asean had called for the planned elections top be free, fair and "inclusive" - code for the participation of Ms Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy which she leads. |
| "We're going to need to study the election laws carefully once they've all been released," British Ambassador Andrew Heyn said. | "We're going to need to study the election laws carefully once they've all been released," British Ambassador Andrew Heyn said. |
| So many of us suspected this wasn't about bringing any real change to Burma, but it is surprising how nakedly they're going about it Sean Turnell of Australia's Macquarie University | So many of us suspected this wasn't about bringing any real change to Burma, but it is surprising how nakedly they're going about it Sean Turnell of Australia's Macquarie University |
| "But it's regrettable and very disappointing that the laws are not based on a dialogue with a range of political opinion." | "But it's regrettable and very disappointing that the laws are not based on a dialogue with a range of political opinion." |
| "They've used so many devices. It's like using a machine gun to kill a mosquito," said Sean Turnell of Australia's Macquarie University. | "They've used so many devices. It's like using a machine gun to kill a mosquito," said Sean Turnell of Australia's Macquarie University. |
| "So many of us suspected this wasn't about bringing any real change to Burma, but it is surprising how nakedly they're going about it." | "So many of us suspected this wasn't about bringing any real change to Burma, but it is surprising how nakedly they're going about it." |
| Ms Suu Kyi has been detained on various charges for most of the past 20 years, after winning the last polls in 1990. | Ms Suu Kyi has been detained on various charges for most of the past 20 years, after winning the last polls in 1990. |
| She was already excluded from political office by a constitutional bar on people with foreign spouses. | She was already excluded from political office by a constitutional bar on people with foreign spouses. |
| 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. |