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Burma laws condemned as 'mockery' Burma laws condemned as 'mockery'
(about 5 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. A US official said they made a mockery of the democratic process, while a UN spokesman said they fell short of expectations for an inclusive election.
Burma has prohibited political prisoners - including the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi - from participating in forthcoming elections. The laws are being announced ahead of Burma's first polls in two decades - although no date has yet been set.
However, several offices of her National League for Democracy were re-opened for the first time since 2003. Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is banned from participating, as are other senior pro-democracy figures.
"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. The new elections laws were formally approved by Burma's military leaders on Monday and are being published in state media gradually.
'Farce' On Thursday a 17-member election commission was named to oversee the polls, headed by a former military officer.
It's a complete farce and therefore contrary to their roadmap to democracy Alberto Romulo Philippine Foreign Secretary
A law also officially annulled the results of the last election in 1990 - which was overwhelmingly won by Ms Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy, although the military government never allowed them to take power.
On Wednesday laws prohibiting those with criminal convictions or who are members of religious orders from belonging to a political party were announced.
This means that jailed political activists - including many of the NLD's top leaders - cannot take part, or the monks who led anti-government protests two years ago.
The NLD's deputy chairman, Tin Oo, condemned the latest laws.
"They have been slowly trying to decimate the party and now they are doing it with utmost force. But the NLD will never collapse," he said.
However, several offices of the National League for Democracy were allowed to re-open for the first time since 2003.
Nyan Win said the NLD had not yet decided how to respond to the laws
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 NLD spokesman Nyan Win described it as a positive step.
"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." "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. 'Devoid of credibility'
Condemnation came from one Asian neighbour, the Philippines, as well as from the US, the UN and Britain. Condemnation of the new laws has come from one Asian neighbour, the Philippines, as well as from the UN, the US and other nations.
"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."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 the Association of South East Asean Nations (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 A spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also expressed concern over the new 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 indications available so far suggest that they do not measure up to our expectations of what is needed for an inclusive political process," Martin Nesirky said.
And US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said that the laws made "a mockery of the democratic process and ensures the upcoming election will be devoid of credibility".
"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 Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein on the sidelines of a recent Asean summit.
Gun power The US and Asean had called for the planned elections to 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. Ms Suu Kyi has been detained on various charges since 1990. She was already excluded from political office by a constitutional bar on people with foreign spouses.
"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
"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.
"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.
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.
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.
Are you in Burma? What is your reaction to the election laws? What will the election achieve? Send us your views using the form below.Are you in Burma? What is your reaction to the election laws? What will the election achieve? Send us your views using the form below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions