News & Articles on Burma

Friday, 23 December 2011
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Election Commission Promises Suu Kyi Free and Fair Election
By WAI MOE Friday, December 23, 2011

The chairman of Burma's Union Election Commission (EC), Tin Aye, has promised pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi that he will ensure the forthcoming by-elections are free and fair, and that the government was committed to cooperating with the opposition for the welfare of the country.

According to Nyan Win, the main spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for democracy (NLD), the former lieutenant-general made the pledges when the pair spoke on Friday at his office in Naypyidaw following the NLD's registration at the election office.

U Tin Aye told Daw Aung San Suu Kyi that he will do his best to ensure the legitimacy of the upcoming elections, and he proposed that both the government and the opposition work together for the betterment of the country, Nyan Win told The Irrawaddy on Friday afternoon.

He also proposed that both sides cooperate to improve the economy, he said.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi thanked U Tin Aye for his pledge to cooperate and to ensure free and fair elections, Nyan Win said, adding that they also discussed a few technical details with regard to the by-elections during their two-hour meeting.

Tin Aye did not disclose when the by-elections would be held, the NLD spokesman said. However, the EC chairman estimated that the bureaucratic process for giving the green light to the NLD application could take three or four weeks.

During the meeting, U Tin Aye appeared reassuring and friendly, and he offered his opinions frankly and openly, Nyan Win said when asked about his impression of the man who used to be No.6 in the military junta hierarchy.

According to reports from Naypyidaw, Suu Kyi also met Upper House Speaker Khin Aung Myint and then Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann, formerly No. 3 in the military hierarchy, at their offices in the capital on Friday afternoon.

Correspondents from local journals said Suu Kyi discussed matters of democracy and parliamentary issues with both house speakers.

As a democratic system is based on justice, liberty and equality, we are serious on the issue of all-inclusiveness, Khin Aung Myint was quoted by Weekly Eleven News as saying.

Neither Suu Kyi nor any other NLD representative is scheduled to meet President Thein Sein on this visit as he has a prior engagement outside the capital.

Tin Aye is not only the EC chairman, but is also the former chairman of the militarys Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd, and a close aide to former junta supremo Than Shwe. Military sources describe him as Than Shwes revenue keeper. He previously attended the same Intake 9 of the Defense Services Academy along with Thein Sein.

NLD party leaders Tin Oo and Suu Kyi formally registered the party on Friday morning at Naypyidaw's Union Election Commission office.

On Suu Kyi's second visit to the capital since her release from house arrest in November, she was accompanied by NLD colleagues, including former general Tin Oo, spokesman Nyan Win and Win Myint.

Suu Kyi's first trip to Naypyidaw was in August when she was invited to attend a government economic workshop. She met and held her first talks with Thein Sein at the presidential palace where they reportedly discussed the political situation in Burma and national reconciliation.

After meetings with Thein Sein and other ministers in Naypyidaw on August 19-20, Suu Kyi said she was satisfied with the outcome.

Following those positive first steps between the government and the country's main opposition leader, Parliament amended the Political Party Registration Law, effectively allowing the NLD to register again as a legal party and opening the way for it to contest by-elections next year.

On Monday, the NLD leadership elected Suu Kyi as the deputy leader of the NLD, and her close aide, Tin Oo, as the leader for formal registration purposes.

The NLD said it intends to contest 48 constituencies in the coming by-elections, and that Suu Kyi herself will be a candidate.

Even if the NLD secures all 48 seats in the polls, it will be still be in a minority until the next general election in 2015. Meanwhile, the military-backed ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will continue to dominate the majority of both houses.

One-quarter of seats in both houses are appointed by the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

The USDP, led by Thein Sein, won a majority in the elections on Nov. 7, 2010. But critics and observers collectively described polling as rigged and unfair.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22714&page=2
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Myanmar opposition leader Suu Kyis party registers to re-enter mainstream politics
By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, December 23, 3:46 PM

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi formally registered her party Friday for any upcoming elections, returning the Nobel laureate to the political arena and winning plaudits from her political rivals in Myanmars military-dominated parliament.

Suu Kyi decided last month to formally rejoin politics after recent reforms by the nominally civilian administration that took power this year. Suu Kyi, National League for Democracy leader Tin Oo and other party members registered the party at the Union Election Commission in the capital, Naypyitaw.

The party boycotted last years general elections because of restrictive rules that among other things prevented Suu Kyi from being a candidate. The government has since lifted many of those restrictions.

The government had taken the NLD off the list of legally recognized political parties because of the boycott.

NLD spokesman Nyan Win said that the party would contest all vacant seats in an upcoming by-election and that Suu Kyi would soon announce in which constituency she will run.

No date has been set for that election, but Election Commission Chairman Tin Aye said last week that the government would announce it three months before the by-election, giving candidates time to campaign.

After registering, Suu Kyi met separately with Khin Aung Myint and Thura Shwe Mann, the speakers of the upper and lower houses of parliament, who both said they welcomed her action. Both had served under the previous military-led government, which kept Suu Kyi under house arrest for much of the past two decades.

All parties should join hands and work together at a time when Myanmar is promoting the spirit of democracy, Khin Aung Myint told reporters.

Allowing Suu Kyis party back into the political fold will likely give the government greater legitimacy at home and abroad. It has already won cautious praise from international observers and critics, including the United States, for introducing reforms.

During her visit to Myanmar early this month, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she wants to ensure that future elections are free, fair and credible in the eyes of the people.

The polls in November 2010 were Myanmars first since the NLD overwhelmingly won a general election in 1990. The military junta at that time refused to honor the results.

The regime kept Suu Kyi under house arrest during different periods for a total of 15 years. She was released just after last years elections and is now free to move about and meet people.

The government continues to hold hundreds of other political prisoners, and Suu Kyi has said the NLD will continue to work for their release.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-opposition-leader-suu-kyis-party-registers-to-re-enter-mainstream-politics/2011/12/22/gIQAV3vkCP_story.html
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BANKING
Opportunity knocks for SCB with new Burma moves
Firm expects to serve clients in country

Published: 23/12/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business

Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is planning aggressive moves aimed at tapping opportunities in the newly opening Burmese market, the new destination of the Thai industrial sector.

President Kannikar Chalitaporn said SCB will request permission from the Bank of Thailand to open a representative office in the neighbouring country soon.

This will be the bank's biggest maneuver in more than a decade after it closed several of its foreign networks in the wake of the 1997 financial crisis.

Previously, Mrs Kannikar said SCB had no interest in expanding its international banking activities after learning "hard lessons" from 1997.

She said the country's banking industry almost collapsed due partly to aggressive expansion abroad.

But she explained that SCB has closely researched the logistics of operating in Burma, which remains under de-facto military administration.

"While we have to acknowledge that sanctions remain, we've studied the issue thoroughly to determine the right channels for safe transactions," said Mrs Kannikar, adding that the focus would be on supporting Thai customers on the ground.

She said providing financial support to Thai customers will always be SCB's main objective rather than competing for local business in each country it enters.

"Sharing markets with local banks is fraught with difficulties. That sort of business model takes more capital and human resource as well as more time," said Mrs Kannikar.

She said after the bank started to facilitate its corporate clients operating in Burma, they asked about whether SCB could provide them with services in country.

"Clients kept asking whether we're active in that market, so we organised a trade trip taking some corporate clients along with us to look for opportunities there. That gave us a chance to learn more about our clients' needs, so now we know which businesses we can focus on," said Mrs Kannikar.

She said opportunities abound in Burma, more so even than in Vietnam or Cambodia, as the country is still in the early stages of economic development.

Besides loans, SCB has much to offer its clients such as investment banking and financial consulting for mergers and acquisitions.

"We have to stop thinking about growing only in terms of loans, as we can do a lot more than that. Otherwise, we'll end up locked into only a limited field," said Mrs Kannikar.

But initially, SCB will only lend money for trading activities in Burma, as it is not yet ready to provide massive capital for investment. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/272097/opportunity-knocks-for-scb-with-new-burma-moves
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BURMA: Bar councils exhorted to support Burmese lawyers

A Press Release by the Asian Legal Resource Centre

(Hong Kong, December 23, 2011) The Asian Legal Resource Centre on Friday issued an appeal to bar councils worldwide to support lawyers in Burma who have had their licences revoked for political reasons.

In a special appeal to the International Bar Association, International Council of Jurists and bar councils around the world, the director of the Hong Kong-based regional research and advocacy group asked that the professional bodies write to urge the Supreme Court in Burma to review the circumstances under which 32 lawyers lost their licences.

The lawyers had had their licences to practice removed "for their simple expression of political views, or for no more than the defence of persons accused of political offences", Wong Kai Shing said in the appeal.

"We are particularly interested to get the support for these lawyers from their counterparts in professional groups around the world, because we are confident that these will have a strong effect both as a source of encouragement for the lawyers and also as an impetus for the professional bodies concerned in Myanmar to review their cases," Wong added.

The appeal to bar councils follows an open letter that the ALRC issued on Thursday to the chief justice in Burma, in support of 16 of the lawyers who in November submitted a written request that their cases be re-examined.

"According to the 16 lawyers, they had their licences revoked unfairly and unlawfully, inasmuch as the revocations were not done in accordance with correct procedure and were motivated not in response to breaches of professional codes of conduct but because of dissatisfaction of the authorities with their political activities, or efforts to defend the rights of persons accused in political cases," Wong said in the letter.

"We believe that there will be other lawyers aside from these 32 in the same situation of having had their licences revoked for political reasons, many having spent periods in jail," he noted.

Text of the open letter is available online here: http://www.alrc.net/doc/mainfile.php/alrc_st2011/696

The appeal and details of the 32 lawyers is available for download in PDF format here: http://www.alrc.net/PDF/ALRC-CPL-001-2011.pdf

Wong said that the ALRC would distribute the appeal widely.

"We will be sending the appeal and details of the lawyers through partners to bar councils throughout Asia, including in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, India and Thailand, as well as further afield, like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Korea and the Philippines," he said.

"However, the appeal is for bar councils worldwide, and so we would be very pleased to hear from professional bodies in other regions of the world, including in Africa, Europe and the Americas," Wong added.

Individuals or bar councils sending letters to the chief justice in Burma are invited to send copies to the ALRC, either to post online or to send on to the lawyers themselves.

To do this, or for further details on the lawyers concerned, write to alrc@alrc.net or burma@humanrights.asia. http://www.humanrights.asia/news/alrc-news/ALRC-PRL-004-2011
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Burmas Nobel laureate meets UEC chairman for party registration
By Zin Linn Dec 23, 2011 2:49PM UTC

Burmas Nobel laureate and leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Aung San Suu Kyi left Rangoon for Naypyitaw to visit Union Election Commission in order to carry out registration process of her political party. Suu Kyi together with U Tin Oo, U Nyan Win, U Han Thar Myint and Dr. Nge Nge have arrived at the Thin-ga-ha hotel in Naypyidaw this morning, as said by The Messager Journal.

At 10:10 am Friday, Suu Kyi and her associates met with UEC Chairman U Tin Aye and seven commission members, namely U Myint Naing, U Aung Myint, U Thar Oo, Dr. Daw Myint Kyi, U Win Kyi, U Nyunt Tin and U Win Ko.

Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) was given the green light from government last month to rejoin mainstream politics, paving the way for the Nobel laureate to run for a seat in the new parliament. The NLD was stripped of its status as a legal political party by the junta in 2010 after it chose to boycott the election, saying the rules were unfair.

NLDs application to return to the political arena came days before the US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clintons Burma visit on 30 November. Twenty-one senior members including Suu Kyi, Tin Oo and Win Tin made the submission in the capital Naypyitaw on 25 November.

The Union Election Commission allowed the formation of the NLD as the application to register was in accordance with the law, the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported on 13 December.

After signing papers as part of the NLD re-registration as a political party, Suu Kyi has met with parliament speakers, said a parliamentary official in the capital Naypyidaw. According to the latest news, U Khin Aung Myint, the Upper House Speaker, met Suu Kyi 1:15 pm today at the parliament. Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann, third-ranking general in the previous junta, also met the Nobel laureate from 1:35 to 2:35 pm according to parliamentary source. The details of the discussion topics were not released.

Both speakers welcomed the leader of key opposition party with open arms, the parliamentary source said.

The Nobel laureate was released a few days after the controversial 2010 November election, having spent much of the past two decades in custody, and she is now planning to play a part in the upcoming by-elections expected early April next year even though no voting date has been set.

Since coming to power in March, the new military-backed government dominated by former generals has made a series of reformist moves in an apparent attempt to reach out to political opponents and the West.

Suu Kyi expressed cautious hope earlier this month that democracy would come to Burma, as she welcomed Hillary Clinton to the home in Rangoon city that was her prison for years during a landmark visit by the US Secretary of State.

On 17 November, the NLD welcomed the approval of Burmas bid to chair Southeast Asias regional bloc in 2014, saying it would boost political change in the inaccessible nation.

The NLDs 18 November decision indicates that it has confidence in governments recent political reforms by the military-backed government which has been under watch for suspicion due to exile political dissident groups.

Many democracy-supporters in the country and members of the National League for Democracy back up the idea of re-entering the NLD to play in the national politics.In its 18-November statement, the party said the NLD has unanimously decided to re-register as a political party and will run in the elections.

The NLD won an election in 1990 by a landslide, while Suu Kyi remained under house arrest, but the ruling generals never allowed the party to take power.

Meanwhile, Aung Min, the governments Railways Minister, hinted remaining political prisoners could be freed as early as next month, according to a participant in recent peace talks with the Karen National Union (KNU). The minister informed two specific dates when the releases would take place, the first on Jan 4, Burmas Independence Day, and the second on February 12, the Union Day.

According to the National League for Democracy partys list of political prisoners, the estimated number is 591. According to today press release of Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) AAPP, there are at least 1,572 individuals in Burma who have been arrested and sentenced on political grounds and are believed to currently be in prison.
http://asiancorrespondent.com/72651/burma%e2%80%99s-nobel-laureate-meets-uec-chairman-for-party-registration/
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Burma to Release More Political Prisoners
By Jack Phillips
Epoch Times Staff Created: December 22, 2011 Last Updated: December 22, 2011


A Burmese official on Thursday said the country will release more of its political prisoners possibly as early as next month, the Irrawaddy publication reported Thursday.

Railway minister and government negotiator Aung Min, who participated in recent government talks where the issue of releasing prisoners was discussed, told the publication of the development.

All remaining political prisoners, he said, would be released in two separate groups. The first group will be set free on Jan. 4, which is the country's independence day and the other group will be released on Jan. 12.

Western powers including the United States have for years imposed sanctions on Burma (also known as Myanmar) for its poor human rights record. A key element of the conditions for having the sanctions lifted has been the release of all political prisoners.

Earlier this year, the country transferred power from its military junta to an elected civilian government under President Thein Sein, a former general. A first wave of about 120 political prisoners was released in October. Since the election in November 2010, the traditionally repressive regime has been showing signs of opening up.

When U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made her historic visit to Burma at the end of last month---the first of its kind in 50 years---she urged the country's leadership to release all remaining prisoners, which activists estimate to be upward of 2,000.

After the October release, Human Rights Watch called on the regime, if it is genuine about improving its human rights record, to not only release prisoners, but change laws.

"The laws that put them behind bars are still on the books and can be used again at any time. If the government wants to show it is really different from its predecessors, it should convene Parliament and repeal laws criminalizing peaceful political speech," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at HRW in a published statement. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/burma-to-release-more-political-prisoners-163073.html
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Suu Kyi's party to run in Burma elections
BreakingNews.ie
23/12/2011 - 08:25:05

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi formally registered her party today for any upcoming elections, returning the once-captive Nobel laureate to the political arena.

Ms Suu Kyi decided last month to formally rejoin politics in the military-dominated country after recent reforms by the nominally civilian administration that took power this year.

Ms Suu Kyi, National League for Democracy leader Tin Oo and other party members registered the party at the Union Election Commission in the capital Naypyitaw.

The party boycotted last year's general elections because of restrictive rules that among other things prevented Ms Suu Kyi from being a candidate. The government has since lifted many of those restrictions.

The government had disqualified the NLD for boycotting the election.

NLD spokesman Nyan Win said the party would contest all vacant seats in an upcoming by-election and Ms Suu Kyi would soon announce in which constituency she will run.

No date has been set for that election, but last week Election Commission chairman Tin Aye said the government would announce it three months before the by-election, giving candidates time to campaign.

Allowing Ms Suu Kyi's party back into the political fold will likely give the government greater legitimacy at home and abroad. It has already won cautious praise from international observers and critics including the United States, for introducing reforms.

During her visit to Burma early this month US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said she wanted to ensure that future elections were "free, fair and credible in the eyes of the people".

The polls in November 2010 were Burma's first since the NLD overwhelmingly won a general election in 1990. The military junta at that time refused to honour the results.

The regime kept Ms Suu Kyi under house arrest during different periods for a total of 15 years. She was released just after last year's elections and is now free to move about and meet people.

The government continues to hold hundreds of other political prisoners and Ms Suu Kyi has said the NLD will continue to work for their release.

Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/suu-kyis-party-to-run-in-burma-elections-533348.html#ixzz1hN2CViLF
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December 23, 2011
Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi Registers Party, Visits Parliament
VOA News

Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (L) poses with Lower House Parliamentary Speaker Shwe Man during her visit to the parliament in the capital Naypyitaw, December 23, 2011.
Photo: Reuters
Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (L) poses with Lower House Parliamentary Speaker Shwe Man during her visit to the parliament in the capital Naypyitaw, December 23, 2011.

Burma's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi formally registered her National League for Democracy as a political party Friday, clearing the way for her to run for a seat in parliament.

Party officials say they will contest a series of coming by-elections once the registration is formally approved, expected within a week. Aung San Suu Kyi has not yet announced the constituency in which she expects to run.

The Nobel peace laureate also visited the parliament for the first time since her release from house arrest late last year. She met with Shwe Mann, a senior figure in the military-backed government and the long-ruling junta that preceded it.

The NLD was stripped of its status as a party last year because it refused to participate in controversial national elections, in which the popular democracy advocate was not permitted to run.

The election produced a new government which, while still dominated by past and present military officers, has implemented a series of reforms including loosened press restrictions and the beginning of dialogue with its critics.

Parliament officials were quoted Friday as saying they welcome Aung San Suu Kyi's return to the political arena.

Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD were overwhelming winners in Burma's 1990 election, but were never permitted to take office. The party leader spent most of the years since then under house arrest.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/southeast/Burmas-Aung-San-Suu-Kyi-Registers-Party-Visits-Parliament-136137273.html
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December 23, 2011 2:18 AM
Aung San Suu Kyi returns to Burma politics

Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, center, arrives at Royal Naypyitaw Hotel in Naypyitaw, Burma, Dec. 23, 2011. (AP)
(AP)

NAYPYITAW, Burma - Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi formally registered her party Friday for any upcoming elections, returning the Nobel laureate to the political arena.

Suu Kyi decided last month to formally rejoin politics in the military-dominated country after recent reforms by the nominally civilian administration that took power this year. Suu Kyi, National League for Democracy leader Tin Oo and other party members registered the party at the Union Election Commission in the capital, Naypyitaw.

The party boycotted last year's general elections because of restrictive rules that among other things prevented Suu Kyi from being a candidate. The government has since lifted many of those restrictions.

The government had disqualified the NLD for boycotting the election.

Video: Clinton, Suu Kyi push democracy in Burma
Video: Clinton, Suu Kyi hold 2nd meeting
Clinton meets Suu Kyi, lays down reform markers

NLD spokesman Nyan Win said the party will contest all vacant seats in an upcoming by-election and Suu Kyi will soon announce in which constituency she will run.

No date has been set for that election, but last week Election Commission Chairman Tin Aye said the government will announce it three months before the by-election, giving candidates time to campaign.

Allowing Suu Kyi's party back into the political fold will likely give the government greater legitimacy at home and abroad. It has already won cautious praise from international observers and critics including the United States, for introducing reforms.

During her visit to Burma early this month U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she wants to ensure that future elections are "free, fair and credible in the eyes of the people."

The polls in November 2010 were Myanmar's first since the NLD overwhelmingly won a general election in 1990. The military junta at that time refused to honor the results.

The regime kept Suu Kyi under house arrest during different periods for a total of 15 years. She was released just after last year's elections and is now free to move about and meet people.

The government continues to hold hundreds of other political prisoners and Suu Kyi has said the NLD will continue to work for their release. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57347542/aung-san-suu-kyi-returns-to-burma-politics/
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Suu Kyi to visit Burma parliament, meet speaker

Published: 23/12/2011 at 11:32 AM
Online news: Asia

Democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi was due to visit Burma's parliament for the first time on Friday to meet with the powerful lower house speaker, her party said.

Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi (C) arrives at a hotel in Naypyidaw on December 23, 2011. Aung San Suu Kyi is in Myanmar's capital as part of the process to re-register her political party, after it was stripped of its legal status for boycotting last year's elections.

In the capital Naypyidaw to sign papers as part of her opposition group's re-registration as a political party, Suu Kyi was set to meet Shwe Mann, third-ranking in the previous ruling junta, said a parliamentary official.

"Both speakers of the lower house and the upper house will meet Suu Kyi this afternoon. They will meet at the parliament," the official told AFP, declining to be named.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) was given the green light from authorities this month to rejoin mainstream politics, paving the way for the Nobel laureate to run for a seat in the new parliament.

The NLD was stripped of its status as a legal political party by the junta last year after it chose to boycott a rare and controversial election, saying the rules were unfair.

Suu Kyi was released a few days after the November poll, having spent much of the past two decades in detention, and she is now planning to take part in by-elections expected early next year although no polling date has been set.

Since coming to power in March, the new military-backed government dominated by former generals has made a series of reformist moves in an apparent attempt to reach out to political opponents and the West.

Suu Kyi expressed cautious hope earlier this month that democracy would come to Burma, as she welcomed Hillary Clinton to the home in Rangoon city that was her prison for years during a landmark visit by the US Secretary of State.

The NLD won an election in 1990 by a landslide, while Suu Kyi remained under house arrest, but the ruling generals never allowed the party to take power. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/272198/suu-kyi-to-visit-burma-parliament-meet-speaker
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Suu Kyi's party registers to run in Myanmar polls
Associated PressAP -- 6 hours ago

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) --- Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi formally registered her party Friday for any upcoming elections, returning the Nobel laureate to the political arena and winning plaudits from her political rivals in Myanmar's military-dominated parliament.

Suu Kyi decided last month to formally rejoin politics after recent reforms by the nominally civilian administration that took power this year. Suu Kyi, National League for Democracy leader Tin Oo and other party members registered the party at the Union Election Commission in the capital, Naypyitaw.

The party boycotted last year's general elections because of restrictive rules that among other things prevented Suu Kyi from being a candidate. The government has since lifted many of those restrictions.

The government had taken the NLD off the list of legally recognized political parties because of the boycott.

NLD spokesman Nyan Win said that the party would contest all vacant seats in an upcoming by-election and that Suu Kyi would soon announce in which constituency she will run.

No date has been set for that election, but Election Commission Chairman Tin Aye said last week that the government would announce it three months before the by-election, giving candidates time to campaign.

After registering, Suu Kyi met separately with Khin Aung Myint and Thura Shwe Mann, the speakers of the upper and lower houses of parliament, who both said they welcomed her action. Both had served under the previous military-led government, which kept Suu Kyi under house arrest for much of the past two decades.

"All parties should join hands and work together" at a time when Myanmar is promoting the spirit of democracy, Khin Aung Myint told reporters.

Allowing Suu Kyi's party back into the political fold will likely give the government greater legitimacy at home and abroad. It has already won cautious praise from international observers and critics, including the United States, for introducing reforms.

During her visit to Myanmar early this month, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she wants to ensure that future elections are "free, fair and credible in the eyes of the people."

The polls in November 2010 were Myanmar's first since the NLD overwhelmingly won a general election in 1990. The military junta at that time refused to honor the results.

The regime kept Suu Kyi under house arrest during different periods for a total of 15 years. She was released just after last year's elections and is now free to move about and meet people.

The government continues to hold hundreds of other political prisoners, and Suu Kyi has said the NLD will continue to work for their release. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/8974623/Burma-Aung-San-Suu-Kyi-formally-registers-her-party.html
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After meeting with Zarganar, AIPMC call again release of all political prisoners in Burma
By Zin Linn Dec 23, 2011 10:27PM UTC

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The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) made a press release today reiterating its call for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Myanmar (Burma)as a precondition for genuine democratic change in the Southeast Asian country.

The call came as AIPMC Vice-President, Cambodian MP and Chair of the AIPMC Cambodia Caucus, Son Chhay, met with comedian Maung Thura, known as Zarganar on 21 December in Phnom Penh.

Zarganar, on his first trip outside of Burma since being granted a passport, met with Son Chhay and other MPs from the Sam Rainsy Party in Phnom Penh on Wednesday evening.

Son Chhay said that Zarganar shared his experience of Burma's prisons, where he and other political prisoners have suffered countless abuses.

"It is crucial to free all political prisoners immediately, if President Thein Sein's move toward democracy is to be seen as genuine and fully inclusive," he said.

Son Chhay highlights that despite oppression under a military regime, Zarganar's strength and determination is well-built and it is a good example for people to learn. His ability to remain positive and committed to standing up against injustice despite the very real threat to his life and security is very admirable, he added.

"I only hope all of us in other ASEAN countries can learn from his example and help establish human rights standards and genuine democracy as pillars in Myanmar and our own countries," he also emphasizes.

Zarganar expressed his gratitude to AIPMC for its years of hard work to help end human rights violations in Burma and facilitate convincingly for a return to democracy. He also expressed his full support for AIPMC's plan to visit Myanmar (Burma) in February 2012, saying it could help to ensure genuine reform and reduce human rights violations in an ASEAN-member country.

Burma will likely become chairman of ASEAN in 2014. As part of AIPMC's long-standing goals to secure democracy and an end to human rights violations, and in light of recent developments within Burma, AIPMC intends to make an official visit to Myanmar in early 2012.

The press release says that a delegation of AIPMC member MPs and staff from the Executive Secretariat plan to travel to Yangon and Naypyidaw to meet with various actors, including members of the political opposition, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League of Democracy, as well as members of civil society, ethnic representatives and representatives of the government, parliamentarians, and members of the National Human Rights Commission.

"Reforms are taking place in Myanmar and we hope to be able to support these changes," said AIPMC President and member of Indonesian Parliament Eva Kusuma Sundari.

"We want to see the Myanmar government take concrete steps towards ensuring all political prisoners are released; we want to see real efforts made by the government and military to cease all state violence and human rights violations against its own civilians, especially ethnic minorities and other vulnerable peoples; and we would like to see inclusive dialog between the government, ethnic leaders and the political opposition held soon as a step towards national reconciliation and peace," she said.

Popular for his political jokes and satire on military rule, regardless of dictatorship, 50-year-old Zarganar was thrown into jail four times by Burma's previous military junta.He has been spent a total of eight years behind bars. He was released from his latest prison term in October under a government amnesty together with other 200 political prisoners.

Since his release, Zarganar has been working to assess the changes taking place in his country, meeting regularly with Aung San Suu Kyi and working for the release of the hundreds of political prisoners still languishing in jails.

"Education is very important if you want people to fully understand what democracy and human rights actually are and mean," Zarganar said while meeting with members of AIPMC. He said Burmese youths need to travel abroad to learn real democracy and human rights.

Zarganar also said that he would travel to the United States for three-month study tour at the William J. Clinton Foundation around end of January 2012. http://asiancorrespondent.com/72679/aipmc-call-again-release-of-all-political-prisoners-in-burma/