InfoAnda - Myanmar's junta prepares ground for elections

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Federal judge remembered as a fair jurist | 15 January 2011
Turkish police fire teargas after controversial court ruling | | 13 March 2012
U.S. foe, Sadr, returns to Iraq after exile | 6 January 2011

Oil steady at $44 ahead of OPEC meeting | 16 December 2008

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Myanmar's junta prepares ground for elections

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Myanmar's junta prepares ground for elections AFP - 2 hours 38 minutes ago Send IM Story Print Myanmar's junta prepares ground for elections BANGKOK (AFP) - – Myanmar's generals have shed their uniforms and are establishing a new political party ahead of the country's first election in two decades, but doubts remain over whether any real change is likely. The military government, which faces strict Western sanctions because of its human rights record, has billed this year's polls -- expected in late October or November -- as a shift of power outside its entrenched military structure. But critics charge that the shift is essentially cosmetic and part of a long expected bid by the military regime to buy some legitimacy. Prime Minister Thein Sein and 22 other ministers resigned from the military last week to officially become civilians ahead of the polls. "They will just change their military uniform. Their positions will be still the same as before," a Myanmar official told AFP. The premier then filed to form the "Union Solidarity and Development Party" (USDP), a name echoing Myanmar's body charged with lobbying and social activities, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). Win Min, a Myanmar researcher at the University of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, said the similarity was not a coincidence. "It is very clear. They used the same name as the USDA. This is the pro-junta party," Win Min said. David Mathieson, an expert on Myanmar at Human Rights Watch, said "it's like the script is playing itself out" as the rulers attempt to polish their image. "For so long people have been assuming this is going to happen, and now it is. They're taking off their uniforms, they're claiming they're going to transform into a political party. It's going according to the plan," he said. The international community did not conceal its anger in early March when the regime unveiled election laws that effectively barred opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, along with other serving prisoners, from taking part. The Peace Prize laureate has lived under house arrest in Yangon for more than 14 of the last 20 years. The legislation forced her National League for Democracy (NLD) party to consider ousting her as leader to enable it to register for the elections -- a move it later decided against. The NLD, the country's main opposition party, has opted to boycott the poll and may face dissolution, leaving the way clear for the junta at the ballot box. By Friday, 25 parties, most of them pro-junta, had filed for registration, with 12 of them so far accepted and others under review, according to the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper. Without the NLD, which won the last polls held in 1990 but was stopped from taking power, the opposition is decidedly weak. NLD lawyers have filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to try to prevent the party being dissolved. But the case has little chance of success and the NLD may be living its last days. "Some of the NLD members disagree with the boycott and could decide to form a new party," said exiled analyst Aung Naing Oo. "But if the NLD does not accept what I call a strategic deconstruction, they could split into factions and undermine each other, which would be a disaster." In the meantime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as the junta is officially known, is painting itself as an acceptable regime, even though Western nations have suggested they will not recognise the poll. "These senior officers who have just resigned, once that party starts taking shape, this is clearly SPDC version 2.0," said Mathieson. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Thai PM talks tough, "red shirts" refuse to give in Reuters - 51 minutes ago Japan PM to meet mayors of proposed site for US base AFP - 53 minutes ago S.Korea minister vows retaliation over sunk warship AFP - 1 hour 32 minutes ago Maoist strike shuts down Nepal; gov't urges talks AP - 1 hour 39 minutes ago Australian racer McFarlane dies in crash AFP - 1 hour 46 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Eurozone set to endorse Greek bailout plan Sunday Weather hampers oil spill efforts in Gulf of Mexico Obama jokes about his ratings and nationality Greek crisis to dominate ECB Lisbon meeting: analysts US oil production, shipping unaffected by spill so far More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, Lula top Time's influence list Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets Obama says US economic heartbeat 'growing stronger' Spain jobless rate tops 20%, adding to debt worries Weather hampers oil spill efforts in Gulf of Mexico More Most Viewed » Aliens may exist but contact would hurt: Hawking Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype French driving veil row escalates Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Sunday, 2 May 2010
Arab League gives backing to indirect Mideast talks
EU sugar companies big winners from CAP subsidies
Bolivia nationalizes electricity companies
Governments, businesses to discuss cybersecurity threats
Fresh poll blow to British PM as papers turn against him
Hundreds gather for US May Day immigration protests
Soldiers kidnapped in south Yemen, U.S. embassy warns staff |
South Africa's Zuma promises laws curbing casual labor |
Papal envoy to run scandal-plagued priestly order |
Syria warns U.S. on accepting Israel scud claims |
Nepal Maoist leader calls strike at anti-govt protest
US Army captain becomes king in Afghanistan
Chinese city goes on defense after school attack
May Day protestors rally across Asia
Suicide bomber in Pakistan's Swat kills 5
Taiwan China flight diverted after explosive claim
Maoists rally in Nepal, announce general strike
Arab League backs resumption of Middle East talks
Eurozone set to endorse Greek bailout plan Sunday
Thai PM talks tough, red shirts refuse to give in |
Privacy vs profit at Facebook
Arab League backs resumption of Middle East talks |
Deadly blast overshadows Russia's May Day events
Weather hampers oil spill efforts in Gulf of Mexico
Spain April unemployment fall leaked to press |
Obama jokes about his ratings and nationality
Colombian rebels kill five soldiers in coca field |
Greek crisis to dominate ECB Lisbon meeting: analysts
US oil production, shipping unaffected by spill so far
Japan PM to meet mayors of proposed site for US base
NY car bomb threatened 'very deadly event': officials
S.Korea minister vows retaliation over sunk warship
Maoist strike shuts down Nepal; gov't urges talks
NY's Times Square evacuated in car bomb scare
Australian racer McFarlane dies in crash
Mass. water main break affects Boston, suburbs
NY's Times Square evacuated in bomb scare
Thai premier says no plans for martial law
Ark. tornadoes kill woman, gov declares emergency
Poor man's Gatorade saves Bangladeshi kids
Anger over Ariz. immigration law drives US rallies
Myanmar's junta prepares ground for elections
Ancient treasures set for auction in Indonesia
China steps up security at schools after attacks
Obama to visit U.S. Gulf as oil slick threatens
Shanghai Expo giant opportunity for big business
U.S. Hispanics decry Arizona law at May Day rallies
India weighs capital controls with rupee on rise
Spielberg, Scorsese call for release of Iran film-maker
China's cinemas set for record box office in 2010
Heavy metal dinosaurs rock the kiddie crowd in Finland
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Tourists in Copenhagen lament loss of Little Mermaid
Spielberg, Scorsese call for release of Iran film-maker
Shroud of Turin 'mirrors' human suffering: pope
Factbox: Turkey's constitutional reform
Palestinian leader says to meet Obama in Washington
Magnitude 5.8 quake hits Chile, no damage reported |
Greece agrees painful cuts in return for bailout
Police open fire in Darfur investment protest -witnesses
Police open fire in Darfur investment protest: witnesses |
Baghdad cafe waitresses break down barriers
New York police foil Times Square car bombing
Iran says develops short-range missile defense |
One dead, 80 hurt in Iraq bus bombing
Greece secures unprecedented bailout: PM
Threatening Note Found On Philadelphia-Bound Plane
UK election gets personal |
Police Kill Charging Bull On Texas Interstate
Pakistani jets target Taliban positions, kill 19 |
Illinois Congressman Arrested During Arizona Immigration Law Protest
Storms kill 15 Bangladeshis, thousands homeless |
Authorities Start Man-Hunt In Attempted New York City Carbombing
NY City Dodges A Bullet After Car Bomb Found In New York's Times Square
Palestinian leader says to meet Obama in Washington |
Somali insurgents seize pirate haven |
U.N. says investigating LRA massacre of 100 in Congo |
Bangladesh sentences 9 border guards for mutiny
Thai cabinet holds emergency meeting on crisis
Iran to propose reforms at US nuclear talks
Thai premier says no plans for martial law
Israeli, Palestinian talks 'within days'
Car bombing foiled in New York's Times Square
Afghan civilian deaths are rising, government says
5 killed in heavy flooding across Tennessee
Maoist strike shuts down Nepal; gov't urges talks
Car bomb scares Times Square, but fails to explode
Obama to visit scene of US oil spill
New Delhi on alert as embassies warn of attack
Small fire spreads smoke at US Embassy in Pakistan
Officials: At least 5 dead in Tenn. flooding
Thai PM talks tough, "red shirts" refuse to give in
China raises bank reserve ratio to rein in lending
US-Taiwanese man held after bomb hoax on plane
Shroud of Turin 'mirrors' human suffering: pope
'Demjanjuk: a Holocaust cabaret' hits German stage
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01