Critical comments abound prior to Myanmar’s elections
Than Shwe was trained in psychological warfare and is very skilful at divide and rule and manipulation.”
- Benedict Rogers, Than Shwe biographer
[Than Shwe] is small, plump, slow moving and physically unimposing. He’s far from the image of a fire-breathing demagogue.”
- Mark Canning, ex-British ambassador to Myanmar
Although they said the connection has been attacked, it’s hard to believe. I think they have been doing it intentionally for the election day to delay news reaching the international community.”
- Kyaw Kyaw, a 25-year-old university student in Yangon, speculating on why the internet stopped working during much of the past two weeks.
My sense is that there were certainly cases of intimidation. These votes are very open to abuses.”
- Britain’s ambassador to Myanmar Andrew Heyn
One thing we know for sure is that it’s not going to be a free or fair election. But the larger question is will there be opportunities to exploit after the election and to press the new government toward better governance.”
- Suzanne DiMaggio, director of policy studies at the Asia Society
I believe that the election will not change anything because the political prisoners are not released and there are limitations. We believe that we will succeed one day, but we need to keep trying.”
- HOW OLD WAS THE PERSON WHO SAID THIS? __-year-old Burmese social activist
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Burma's election
by the numbers*
20
Years since the last election was held in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi was elected prime minister but the junta ignord the results and constinued to rule.
392
The number of seats, out of ___HOW MANY SEATS WERE THERE TOTAL?, that Suu Kyi parties won.
29
million
Eligible voters in Myanmar for these elections.
66
The percentage of total candidates in this week’s elections that are aligned with one of the two pro-junta parties.
25
The percentage of seats in the national and regional governments reserved for the junta, regardless of the outcome of elections.
.002
The percentage of people (1 out of 455) living in Myanmar who were internet users in 2009.
Critical comments abound
prior to Myanmar’s elections
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