Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi wins by-election: NLD party

BBC News ^ | 4/1/12 | BBC

[NormsRevenge]

Burma's Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has won a by-election for parliament, her party says, after a landmark vote that saw 45 seats contested.

Ms Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) said she had easily won in Kawhmu. Official results are not expected until later in the week.

In a statement, she urged supporters to show restraint in their celebrations.

The vote is a key test of political reforms, though the army and its allies dominate the 664-seat parliament.

The NLD was competing in its first elections since 1990. 'Dignified'

Thousands of people who gathered outside the NLD headquarters in Rangoon danced and cheered at reports that Ms Suu Kyi had won her seat.

"It is the people's victory! We have taught them a lesson," one shopkeeper wearing an NLD T-shirt told the Associated Press news agency.

Aung San Suu Kyi said in a statement: "It is natural that the NLD members and their supporters are joyous at this point.

"However, it is necessary to avoid manners and actions that will make the other parties and members upset. It is very important that NLD members take special care that the success of the people is a dignified one."

Even if the NLD wins most of the 44 seats it is contesting, the army and its proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will still hold about 80% of seats in parliament.

During the campaign, foreign journalists and international observers were given the widest access for years.

[NormsRevenge]

A few years ago, This would definitely have been an April Fools thread candidate.

[Psalm 73]

For those unfamiliar with Aung San Suu Kyi, I recommend a movie that came out about 12 years ago: "Northeast of Rangoon" about a tourist that gets caught up in the chaos of the military take-over of Burma.
That's how I first became aware of her and her struggles.

[nerdwithagun]

So you would say this specific individual actually deserves her Piece Prize? I've become so jaded with that whole award, whenever I hear about the winner I think either a terrorist (commie or islamist) or a left wing loon.

[tumblindice]

His cheek
Was rough
His chick vamoosed
And now she won’t
Come home to roost
Burma Shave

[B Knotts]

So, the socialists have defeated the socialists, who had seized power years ago from the socialists?

[Psalm 73]

"So you would say this specific individual actually deserves her Piece Prize?"

Read up on her, she really is courageous.
There have been a few true Nobel Peace Prize winners of integrity (less and less over the years), but sometimes they DO get it right.

[BobL]

“So you would say this specific individual actually deserves her Piece Prize?”

Yea, she put her life in danger for an (arguably) good cause...so she does deserve something (unlike the OWS sissies). Also, the fact that she could have headed to a ‘civilized’ country and be done with the politics of Burma also scores well with me. Not to mention that she’s pretty decent looking...

[nerdwithagun]

thanks, guess she is a decent person.

[caddie]

He lit
His smoke
Too close to
The tank
So now
They call him
‘Skinless Frank’
Burma Shave.

Yep, I have a Burmese cat named Chessie, and he is going to be pretty happy to hear about the election.

FReegards