Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Clandestine monk and student organisations yesterday urged the people of Burma yesterday to boycott this year’s general elections to prevent activation of the junta’s controversial 2008 constitution.
People were also urged in the join statement issued by the All Burma Monks’ Alliance (ABMA), the 88-Generation Students and All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) to make votes null and void if they were forced to cast their votes.
As per the electoral laws, the election will be valid only if 51 per cent of eligible voters cast their votes.
“We shall make this election void by increasing the numbers of uncast votes and void votes,” 88-Generation student leader Tun Myint Aung, who has been on the run from the junta since the August 2007 uprisings, told Mizzima from his hideout. “In this way the regime will not get the legitimacy for its rule which it so badly needs.”
In collaboration with students, youths, monks across the country, the groups were planning to secretly distribute leaflets and CDs among the public, urging them to boycott the upcoming general election, he said.
It is estimated that there are more than 27 million eligible voters out of total population of more than 57 million (in 2008).
Political observers predict the general election will be held by the junta in either October or November this year.
The 2008 Constitution negates the need for military candidates to contest the election as 25 per cent of seats are reserved for armed forces personnel in all legislative bodies; the People’s Parliament (lower house), National Parliament (upper house) and People’s Assemblies in states and regions (local legislatures).
The parties that won the 1990 general election, which included the National League for Democracy (NLD) and those of ethnic groups, demanded revision of the constitution first and have refused to contest in this year’s election.
“The effectiveness of our boycott campaign will depend on our effort and acceptance by the people and the feasibility of doing this job”, ABFSU spokesman Zar Ni said.
Critics of this election speculated that the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) led by current Prime Minister Thein Sein would contest in all constituencies across the country. The government disclosed that the membership strength of the party’s pro-junta umbrella organisation, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), stood at more than 24 million. But it has not yet disclosed the total membership of the USDP.
“I dare say they will get less votes than they expected when the election is actually held”, ABMA spokesman U Awbartha told Mizzima confidently.
The abbot said the groups would continue their campaign until the election was rendered null and void.
Exile opposition group Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB) general secretary Dr. Naing Aung said that if more than 50 per cent of eligible voters boycotted the polls it would be an interesting turnout.
“It is crucial to have enough courage to speak out about our dislikes. They [the junta and pro-junta parties] will do their work of lying to the people and on the other hand the people have to do their own work to boycott the election and keep themselves aware of the electoral process,” he said. “But not simply the commitment to not vote, they must express their commitment to others even before voting.”
“Then they [the people] can expose [the junta’s] vote-rigging when the votes are being counted. We will try our hardest to achieve this mission and we need the co-operation of the people in accomplishing our work”, Dr. Naing Aung said.
NLD party led by Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide victory with more than 80 per cent of total seats in the 1990 general election but the military regime refused to transfer power to the winning party.
Source :http://mizzima.com/news/election-2010/3981-monks-and-students-urge-poll-boycott-.html
People were also urged in the join statement issued by the All Burma Monks’ Alliance (ABMA), the 88-Generation Students and All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) to make votes null and void if they were forced to cast their votes.
As per the electoral laws, the election will be valid only if 51 per cent of eligible voters cast their votes.
“We shall make this election void by increasing the numbers of uncast votes and void votes,” 88-Generation student leader Tun Myint Aung, who has been on the run from the junta since the August 2007 uprisings, told Mizzima from his hideout. “In this way the regime will not get the legitimacy for its rule which it so badly needs.”
In collaboration with students, youths, monks across the country, the groups were planning to secretly distribute leaflets and CDs among the public, urging them to boycott the upcoming general election, he said.
It is estimated that there are more than 27 million eligible voters out of total population of more than 57 million (in 2008).
Political observers predict the general election will be held by the junta in either October or November this year.
The 2008 Constitution negates the need for military candidates to contest the election as 25 per cent of seats are reserved for armed forces personnel in all legislative bodies; the People’s Parliament (lower house), National Parliament (upper house) and People’s Assemblies in states and regions (local legislatures).
The parties that won the 1990 general election, which included the National League for Democracy (NLD) and those of ethnic groups, demanded revision of the constitution first and have refused to contest in this year’s election.
“The effectiveness of our boycott campaign will depend on our effort and acceptance by the people and the feasibility of doing this job”, ABFSU spokesman Zar Ni said.
Critics of this election speculated that the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) led by current Prime Minister Thein Sein would contest in all constituencies across the country. The government disclosed that the membership strength of the party’s pro-junta umbrella organisation, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), stood at more than 24 million. But it has not yet disclosed the total membership of the USDP.
“I dare say they will get less votes than they expected when the election is actually held”, ABMA spokesman U Awbartha told Mizzima confidently.
The abbot said the groups would continue their campaign until the election was rendered null and void.
Exile opposition group Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB) general secretary Dr. Naing Aung said that if more than 50 per cent of eligible voters boycotted the polls it would be an interesting turnout.
“It is crucial to have enough courage to speak out about our dislikes. They [the junta and pro-junta parties] will do their work of lying to the people and on the other hand the people have to do their own work to boycott the election and keep themselves aware of the electoral process,” he said. “But not simply the commitment to not vote, they must express their commitment to others even before voting.”
“Then they [the people] can expose [the junta’s] vote-rigging when the votes are being counted. We will try our hardest to achieve this mission and we need the co-operation of the people in accomplishing our work”, Dr. Naing Aung said.
NLD party led by Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide victory with more than 80 per cent of total seats in the 1990 general election but the military regime refused to transfer power to the winning party.
Source :http://mizzima.com/news/election-2010/3981-monks-and-students-urge-poll-boycott-.html
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