The new constitution, the 2010 election, the formation of a parliament and the creation of the organs of state are all filled with potential pitfalls. The outcome will determine Burma’s future.
If military-backed political candidates win big in the election, their increased share of legislators will pave the way to form a strong, authoritarian government.
The 2008 constitution is a tightly constructed document designed to provide “disciplined democracy” to Burma, which means continued military dominance.
"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