Myanmar’s military junta is planning elections for the first time since the coup two years ago – a new parliament is expected to be elected in the Southeast Asian country in August.
However, the generals make it difficult for parties to take part in such a vote at all: a 20-page law with restrictive rules was passed before the elections complicated rules for potential applicants determines. The document, which is available to the German news agency, was signed by coup leader Min Aung Hlaing on Thursday.
This Wednesday marked the second anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar. The junta forcibly deposed democratically elected Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi and then put her on trial. The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (77) has now been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for various alleged crimes. The former Burma has descended into chaos and violence since its overthrow. The EU and the US have imposed sanctions on the military leadership.
Observers believe the new law will allow the junta to exclude Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party from the election. “It will also be interesting to see how to vote in areas of armed conflict.”said Chit Oo, a former NLD MP. “Nowhere is safe.”
In many parts of the country, armed groups are fighting against the army. Time and time again there are reports of air strikes and attacks on the civilian population. More than 2,800 people have been killed and 17,000 arrested since the coup, according to estimates by the prisoner relief organization AAP.
(yam/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
