Simonia Aida

Myanmar in a run-up to the parliamentary elections

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2010, №14, 208-221

 
Annotation: Dr. Aida Simonia in her paper «Myanmar in a run-up to the parliamentary elections» observes the political situation and the legal framework in the country before general elections. The Constitution of 2008 which is the base for elections of 2010 as well as a number of recently approved electoral laws would effectively prevent Aung San Suu Kyi and other political dissidents from participating in the upcoming elections. While the opposition National League for Democracy decided not to register the party and dissolve it, the prime minister of Myanmar general Thien Sein and the members of his cabinet had resigned from the army in April 2010 to stand in the elections as civilians and took a speedy decision to register their Union Solidarity and Development Party. The author also analyses the new wave of privatization of the state property. In the pre-election period the military government began the largest sell-off of the state assets in the country’s history including government buildings in the former capital, port facilities, mines, hydro-power plants and large equities in the national airlines. The main reason for holding elections now is to seek the formal legitimacy via an electoral mandate. Anyway the military will retain vast influence in all areas of life despite its civilian image.

Keywords: MYANMAR, PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2010, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, MAIN REASON FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS