2012 Myanmar by-elections
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40 (of the 440) seats to the Pyithu Hluttaw and 6 (of the 224) seats to the Amyotha Hluttaw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2012 Burmese by-elections are scheduled to be held on 1 April 2012.[1] The elections will be held to fill 45 vacant parliamentary seats.[2][3]
The main opposition party National League for Democracy was re-registered for the by-elections on 13 December 2011 as part of the reforms in Burma since 2010. NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi will run in the seat of Kawhmu.[4]
Election observers
In February 2012, President Thein Sein remarked that the government would "seriously consider" allowing Southeast Asian observers from the Association of South East Asian Nations to observe the election.[5] The Burmese government confirmed that it had requested for ASEAN election observers to arrive on 28 March, 5 days before the election.[6] The United States, European Union, China, and North Korea, as well as ASEAN dialogue partners (India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and Australia), were also invited to observe the election, although it remains unclear the degree of access these international observers will have.[7][8] The United States will be sending 2 election observers and 3 journalists.[9]
On 13 March 2012, the Union Election Commission, approved political party monitors to monitor polling stations during the election.[10] In the previous election, only Union Solidarity and Development Party monitors had been allowed to observe the elections and ballot counts.[10] A civilian-led monitoring group, including members of the 88 Generation Students Group, will also be scrutinizing election irregularities.[11]
Controversies
Aung Din of the US Campaign for Burma has said that the Burmese government is exploiting the elections to have Western sanctions lifted as quickly as possible, since a free and transparent election has been one of the conditions set by the European Union and American governments.[7] Moreover, the National League for Democracy has pointed out irregularities in voter lists and rule violations by local election committees.[12] On 21 March 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi was quoted as saying "Fraud and rule violations are continuing and we can even say they are increasing."[12]
With regard to the invitations of international election observers, a US State Department spokesperson said that the Burmese government fell short of expectations to accomadate observers during the entirety of the campaign season (as typically done), which is nearing the end, as a select number of observers will be allowed only to observe the election:[13][14]
"...it does fall short of international complete transparency on an election, and we hope they’ll continue to keep the system open, and open it further... A full-scale international observation effort would typically include quite a bit of pre-Election Day observation, systematic coverage on Election Day, post-election follow-up, and professional monitors from nongovernmental organizations."
Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), a Bangkok-based election monitoring organization, has publicly called the election observations inadequate, failing to meet international standards, being too restrictive (only 2 observers are allowed per government, or 5 for ASEAN nations), and coming too late (invitations were sent less than 2 weeks before the election date), all of which which make it logistically impossible to monitor all 48 polling stations.[15] On 20 March 2012, Somsri Hananuntasuk, executive director of ANFERL, was deported from Yangon, purportedly for entering the country a tourist visa.[16]
On 23 March 2012, the three by-elections in Kachin State, namely in the constituencies of Mogaung, Hpakant and Bhamo Townships, were postponed due to the security situation there.[17][18]
On April 1, the opposition National League for Democracy alleged irregularities, claiming that ballot sheets had been tampered to allow the election commission to cancel the vote for Suu Kyi's party.[19]
Races
Pyithu Hluttaw
Amyotha Hluttaw
Regional Hluttaws
| Region | Constituency | Vacated MP | Party | Result | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayeyarwady | Yegyi Township 2 | Thaung Than (death) | USDP | ||
| Bago | Kawa Township 2 | Aye Naing | USDP |
 |
|---|
 Myanmar portal |
References
- ^ "Electoral Calendar - international elections world elections". Retrieved 2011-05-12.
- ^ http://www.aljazeera.com/video/asia-pacific/2012/03/2012329184512429532.html
- ^ Hla Hla Htay (30 December 2011). "Myanmar sets by-election date". AFP. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ "Aung San Suu Kyi registers for Burma election run". BBC News. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ Petty, Martin (21 February 2012). "Myanmar says will consider ASEAN poll observers". Reuters. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ "Burma gets ASEAN poll monitor boost". Democratic Voice of Burma. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
- ^ a b Sopheng Cheang (21 March 2012). "Myanmar will allow US, EU monitors for April vote". Associated Press. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ "Burma invites US and EU observers to April by-elections". BBC News. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ "US Accepts Burma's Invitation to Observe April 1 Vote". Voice of America. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ a b Shwe Aung (14 March 2012). "UEC okays poll monitors". Democratic Voice of Burma. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ "Citizens to Monitor Elections". Radio Free Asia. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Western Election Observers Invited". Radio Free Asia. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ Kha, Lalit K. (22 March 2012). "Good First Step, But Short of Complete Transparency: US". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ Nuland, Victoria (March 21, 2012). "Daily Press Briefing". US Department of State. Washington, DC. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ "Myanmar Election Observation Encouraging But Inadequate". Asian Network for Free Elections. Bangkok. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
{{cite news}}:|first=missing|last=(help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Zin Linn (23 March 2012). "Is Burma's election monitoring a window-dressing?". Asia Tribune. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ "Myanmar postpones vote in 3 of 48 constituencies because of security concerns". Associated Press. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17491613
- ^ "Myanmar opposition alleges ballot irregularities". Montreal Gazette. 2012-04-01.
- ^ "By-elections Special". Alternative Asean Network on Burma. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
See also
| General elections | |
|---|---|
| State elections | |
| Local elections | |
| Referendums | |
See also: Union Election Commission | |
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