Myanmar announces 37 parties to contest election, Suu Kyi's party officially dissolved

YANGON, Myanmar - A total of 37 parties will contest the upcoming elections in military-ruled Myanmar, state media announced Tuesday, but they won't include the group affiliated with detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The 37 will be allowed to use state broadcasting facilities as part of campaigning for the Nov. 7 polls, according to state television and radio.

They also confirmed that five established parties, including Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, have been dissolved for their failure to reregister. Although the dissolution occurred automatically earlier this year, it was the first official declaration of the action.

Suu Kyi's party won a landslide victory in the last election in 1990, but was not allowed to take power by the military. It decided to boycott this year's election, charging that the process is unfair and undemocratic. The second-place party in the 1990 polls, the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, also declined to reregister.

Source:http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/breakingnews/myanmar-announces-37-parties-to-contest-election-suu-kyis-party-officially-dissolved-102876089.html

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