HANOI— The Philippines says the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will be undermined if next month's elections in military-ruled Burma are a sham.

RANGOON — Reports are emerging from Arakan State and Shan State that voter lists for the Nov. 7 general election have been tampered with, setting the stage for massive ballot-stuffing on election day.

In a roundtable discussion held at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, representatives of Burma's ethnic groups who are living in exile agreed

Burmese voters are under increasing pressure from local authorities and members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) to cast advance ballots before the upcoming election, according to a letter of complaint sent to the Election Commission by the chairman of the Democratic Party (Myanmar) (DPM).

The ghost of military-ruled Burma’s first strongman, Ne Win, has returned to haunt the  current junta leader, Than Shwe, as the country heads for its first general election in two decades on Nov. 7.   

RANGOON — In downtown Rangoon, less than two weeks before the Nov. 7 election, life appears much as usual. People lounge and relax in roadside tea-shops, children run and play among vehicles and the detritus of roadworks, monks – and nuns, in miraculously clean, pink tunics with tan shoulder robes and brown umbrellas –

Two Burmese soldiers were killed and three were injured during two attacks on an Election Commission convoy by Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) troops near Three Pagodas Pass. The convoy was transporting ballot boxes from Kyar Inn Seik Gyi, according to Karen sources.

Though junta supremo Snr-Gen Than Shwe's plans for his post-election role still remain uncertain after state-run media described him as the commander in chief during the week, observers say at least two ways remain for him to retain control of the country in the next 10 years.

As Burma's election campaign hots up, the competing political parties are dressing down—donning T-shirts emblazoned with slogans and party logos.

HANOI — World leaders are expected to launch a last-ditch plea this week for free and fair elections in military-run Burma, but at least one neighboring Southeast Asian country has already dismissed the upcoming polls as a "farce."