No decision on polls till electoral process is announced: Suu Kyi

Wednesday, 10 February 2010 21:59 Myint Maung

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Burmese democracy icon and National League for Democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi has declared that a decision on contesting the general election in Burma cannot be taken till the electoral process is publicized.

She made her view clear to those who visited her yesterday. She also spoke of the necessity of right to information to make the election free and fair.

"A decision on electoral affairs cannot be taken at the moment. There are a lot of facts regarding the electoral process which needs to be known. Before that, it is impossible to take decision on the election - Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told us,” National League for Democracy (NLD) party spokesman and lawyer Nyan Win said.

Lawyer Nyan Win and Htin Kyaw, who have been assigned by Suu Kyi to monitor the renovation of her residence, met her at her home yesterday between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

"Any election must have right to information, media freedom, and freedom in releasing news. Without these freedoms, no election can be free and fair,” Nyan Win quoted her as saying.

The basic needs of freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of organization are essential for free and fair election, NLD General Secretary Suu Kyi told them.

Senior NLD leader Win Tin commenting on Suu Kyi’s observations said, “She cannot say more than that as the electoral laws and regulations are yet to be announced. I think she will give her precise views sand opinions when the time is ripe".

"What Daw Suu said is very important. They are the main requirements for the election. It is also a political requirement. What Daw Suu said is we must make our demands to get to know the full electoral process," Win Tin further said.

Daw is an honorific similar to madam for older, revered women.

If the election is conducted within the framework of the 2008 constitution, it will not help implement the democratic system, Suu Kyi once said, Nyan Win recalled.

In the backdrop of the announcement made by the junta on the forthcoming election to be held during this year after forcibly approving the 2008 constitution under media blackout, the opposition groups are demanding amendment to the constitution, release of all political prisoners including Suu Kyi and engagement in dialogue with the opposition.