Dear Friends,

Below are the “2010 Election Watch” highlights for Week 22, covering 3-9 August:

Developments

• Union Democracy Party Chairman Phyo Min Thein resigned over concerns that the upcoming elections would not be free and fair due to the oppressive SPDC election laws.
• The Union Democratic Party’s newly appointed Chairman Thein Htay said that the party had not decided whether it would contest the upcoming elections because the polls “may be neither free nor fair.”
• A commentary in the state-run newspaper warned that anyone who disrupts the upcoming elections could face up to 20 years in prison.
• Youths throughout Burma formed the All Burma Youth Union to urge Burmese voters to collectively boycott the elections.
• The Union Solidarity and Development Party distributed low interest loans in Taungdwingyi, Yenanchaung, Namauk, and Magwe Townships in Magwe Division.

For more developments click here

Reactions

• In explaining his reasons for resigning, former Union Democracy Party Chairman Phyo Min Thein said he “had expectations that the entire [Burmese] people would be allowed to take part in politics and of the release political prisoners, their participation in the elections, freedom of campaigning and freedom of press. However, none of these things has happened so far.”
• All Burma Youth Union spokesman Aung Myint equated participation in the election to “officially allowing the military to continue the dictatorship and hold on to power for generations to come.” He urged the Burmese people “not to accept the [SPDC] constitution.”
• Chin Progressive Party Vice-Chairman Chen Hre expressed confidence that his party would prevail over the junta-backed parties in Chin State. “Chin people will not support the [USDP],” because “[t]he junta […] will set up a dictatorship,” he said.

For more reactions click here

You can find comprehensive monitoring of the 2010 elections on the “2010 Election Watch” website. The Election Watch summarizes developments according to indicators drawn from UN, OSCE, and EU guidelines. You can also join our 2010 Election Watch facebook page to receive the latest Election Watch updates.

Yours, in solidarity,

ALTSEAN-Burma