The Irrawaddy Burma Election 2010

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Election Campaign To Begin

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Pro-junta political groups prepare to campaign after Armed Forces Day on March 27.

Political parties may campaign after Armed Forces Day, according to the National Political Alliance, which spoke to The Irrawaddy on Monday.

“They haven't announced the date for party registration yet. Sources close to the USDA said the parties  can start campaigning after Armed Forces Day,” said Ohn Lhwin, a board member of the National Political Alliance, a political party formed from nine small political groups.

The Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) has named its main party the “Guidance Democracy Party” and it will form two other proxy parties with USDA youths and women, according to sources close to the USDA, who added that the USDA will start its campaigns after Armed Forces Day on March 27.

So far, the government hasn't announced the date for the registration of political parties, but all pro-junta parties which have accepted the 2008 Constitution will be allowed to begin campaigning after March 27.

Meanwhile, both the Union of Myanmar National Political Force (UMNPF) and the 88 Generation Students the Union of Myanmar (GSUM), are traveling and holding political discussions.

Aye Lwin is the chairman of UMNPF and Khin Maung Oo is the general secretary, while San Oo is the general secretary of GSUM.

“Our executive members are on a three-day trip to Taungoo, Naypyidaw and Sagaing to conduct political discussions,” said Ye Htun, the chairman of GSUM.

“We've decided to register at the commission when it announces the date for registration,” he said. “The trip may take longer than three days. Before registration, we have to review the rules and regulations regarding party registration.”

Ye Htun's GSUM is different from the original 88 Generation Students group led by prominent former student leaders Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi and others, who are currently in jail.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party led by Thu Wai has started to accept party member registration, said Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein, who is taking a leading role in the party, speaking to The Irrawaddy on Monday.

“We have started to accept members today,” she said. “We have to accept at least 1000 applicants fill up forms and become members so that the commission accepts us for party registration.”

The Democratic Party is now working on a pamphlet campaign with the photos and policies of its four leaders: Thu Wai, the chairman and the three daughters of former ministers of Burma; Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein, Nay Ye Ba Swe and Mya Than Than Nu.

The National Political Alliance will hold a meeting to discuss policy and choose its central executive committee members, said Kyi Win, a board member of the party.

“The meeting will be on March 20-22. We'll choose 15 executive committee members from our nine groups,” he said.  “We have chosen our party flag and our manifesto is ready for distribution.”

Party registration will be at the end of this month, Kyi Win said.

The government has not yet announced the date for party registration.

 

Quotable

Nyan_win80"Once her [Aung San Suu Kyi's] sentence expires in November, and that notion is not disputed, it is our understanding that she will have served her sentence."
—Nyan Win, the foreign minister of Burma

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