NLD Says ‘No’ to Election
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| Pro-democracy activists denounce the Burmese election protest in New Delhi on march 17. (Reuters) |
Burma’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), has decided against registering for the general election this year. The decision, approved by a unanimous vote of the NLD’s 113 executive members, will effectively eliminate the party as a legal political entity in Burma. The decision was in response to the regime’s election laws, which prohibit NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners from participating in the election or retaining membership in their respective parties. Early feedback to The Irrawaddy indicated that many people in Burma welcomed the NLD decision, but said they will have fewer choices in the election.
Redshirts Rally in Bangkok
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| Redshirt supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra take part in an anti-government protest in Bangkok on March 20. (Photo: AP) |
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva slept at an army base in Bangkok as Redshirt demonstrations were held in the Thai capital. The movement—consisting primarily of supporters of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and pro-democracy activists who opposed the 2006 coup that removed Thaksin from power—is demanding Abhisit call fresh elections. The Redshirts poured donated blood outside the front gate of Government House, the Democratic Party headquarters and Abhisit’s home in a symbolic sacrifice to press their demands for new elections. The demonstrations came after Thailand’s highest court ruled that Thaksin had concealed his assets while in office and abused his power for personal gain, and ordered the seizure of 46 billion baht (US $1.4 billion) of his $2.29 billion in frozen assets.
Asean to End Nargis Aid
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| Villagers carry drinking water in plastic containers from a lake in Dala Township in the Irrawaddy delta on March 21. (Photo AP) |
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has announced that it will end its recovery assistance for Cyclone Nargis-affected regions in Burma by July. Asean will accelerate aid delivery to affected people and transfer the coordination role of assistance for post-Nargis recovery efforts to the Burmese government, according to an Asean statement. Meanwhile, more than 500,000 cyclone survivors in affected Irrawaddy and Rangoon divisions still lack shelter and work.
Regime May Outlaw UWSA
The Burmese military junta is reportedly considering the option of outlawing the country’s largest ethnic armed group, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), if it fails to agree to the regime’s order to join the planned border guard force. If the UWSA is officially outlawed, the way is open to military action against the armed group, which has an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 troops in Shan State. Regime officials are said to have appealed to China to help persuade the Wa to accept the plan. In the face of rising tension along the Sino-Burmese border, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has alerted its troops to monitor the situation closely.
UN Envoy Seeks War Crimes Commission
Tomás Ojea Quintana, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, has called for an international inquiry into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the ruling Burmese junta. He said a pattern of gross and systematic violations of fundamental freedoms continued in the country.
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