Myanmar election: Results expected in freest elections in decades [Burma]

CNN ^ | November 9, 2015 | Euan McKirdy, Ivan Watson, Pamela Boykoff, CNN

[deks]

Millions of Burmese took to the polls Sunday in an election billed as the country's freest vote in a quarter-century.

Victory for [Aung San] Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, would weaken the power of the military-linked party, which is led by President Thien Sein, a former general.

In Yangon, the country's largest city, people lined up at polling stations before sunrise.

Pro-democracy supporters are optimistic the election could be the beginning of real change in the country, which has been isolated for decades due to its repressive military-dominated government.

While the administration of current President Thein Sein has relaxed restrictions, pushing through expansive political and economic reforms and bringing the country out of decades of authoritarian rule and international isolation, watchers say that the elections are still far from free and fair.

Suu Kyi -- a national hero who spent nearly 15 years under house arrest -- is overwhelmingly her country's most popular politician.

Under the country's military-drafted constitution, she is barred from the presidency due to a rule prohibiting anyone with foreign family members from assuming top office. Suu Kyi's late husband was British, and her two sons have British passports.

The president is not directly elected by the public, but chosen by MPs following the vote. Suu Kyi will stand as an MP, and has hinted at a civilian candidate to put forward for the role.

[deks]

The video with the article gives an overview of the situation.

[deks]

Myanmar’s Ruling Party Admits Election Defeat

The chairman of Myanmar’s ruling party has conceded defeat in the country’s first free general election in 25 years.

The leader of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, Htay Oo, told Reuters: “We do accept the results without any reservations.”

His comments, along with initial reports from counting stations around the country, would appear to support opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s comments earlier in which she hinted at a victory for her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).

http://news.sky.com/story/1584025/myanmars-ruling-party-admits-election-defeat

[deks]

Also on the page is a video “Who is Aung San Suu Kyi?” which explains the history of her involvement in Burmese politics.

[katana]

Unfortunately for Madame Suu Kyi (and we Americans who suffer a political system in which the Democratic Party is allowed to exist), when it come to who matters in an election, the people who vote or the people who count the votes, Stalin was right.

[SampleMan]

"...freest elections in decades..."

Is a 50% free election really preferable to a 10% free election?

Here in the USA, the Dems have taken election after election by only making it 5% unfree.

[Carry_Okie]

Sounds like Salvador Allende all over again.

[Gamecock]

Can’t be good for white, poet warlords.

[FredZarguna]

Can’t be good for white, poet warlords.

Especially ones that speak gibberish instead of Burmese.