Conclusion: "The 2010 elections were designed as a step along the military regime?s roadmap to ?disciplined democracy,? following the referendum on the 2008 constitution. The elections were held not to provide the citizens of Burma with a government of their choice, but to gain international legitimacy for the regime?s extended rule in Burma. The people of Burma as well as the international community expected that the elections results would be a sham and not free and fair. ND-Burma?s fi ndings confi rm expectations showing that actions taken in the pre-elections period were consistent with ongoing violations committed by the military regime, to legitimize and perpetuate its power. The elections in Burma, the fi rst in 20 years, were not free and fair and did not meet even basic international standards. ND-Burma collected hundreds of cases of violations related to the elections. This report includes a number of key selected accounts that illustrate the human rights violations and irregularities that occurred in the lead up to the elections, and the experience of repression and fear lived in Burma. Perpetrators of those violations were authorities and USDP members. The victims of those threats were the people of Burma. Due to the numerous threats people faced diffi culties, disappointment, frustration and fear during the elections process and had to vote against their will. The regime?s proxy party, USDP, employed cunning tactics and intimidation to win the elections. The elections law announced by the UEC breached a number of democratic standards and human rights by putting in place restrictions to party registration, limiting freedom of expression, assembly and association and denying the right to vote to many, through ways of intimidation, threat, fraud, vote buying and vote rigging. The UEC laws set the background for an uneven contest. The extensive use of threats, coercion and intimidation throughout the elections period constitutes one of the main violations committed and reinforced the uneven playfi eld in which the elections took place. Restrictions to freedom of movement, freedom of expression, assembly and association, imposed by the elections laws and unclear laws adopted over the past 30 years, seriously limited opposition candidates? capacity to campaign freely, fairly and effectively. Restrictions of travel prevented opposition political parties and their supporters from traveling; and curfews were implemented to crack down on public demonstrations against the elections and reduce movement of people. Opposition candidates and representatives, voters and villagers were pressured by authorities, military offi cials and USDP to support the USDP and forced to vote; and, on occasions, were denied the right to vote. On 16 September and 2 November 2010, the UEC announced that voting would not be held in some areas of Kachin, Karenni, Karen, Shan and Mon States. Irregularities with voter lists and the cast of votes without voter consent and/or knowledge violated their right to vote. It is believed that the denial of the right to vote and misuse of voter lists was deliberately used to exclude opponents to the regime from ballots. Many irregularities linked to vote count were registered, which seriously undermines the credibility of the results announced and published in the State media. Advance votes played a key role in determining the outcomes of the elections and irregularities observed are considered to have seriously undermined the credibility of the elections. The restrictions on freedom of expression imposed during the elections period continue to be felt by current members of the parliament. Clashes with armed groups, which broke straight after the elections results were announced, and the building of tensions over the Border Guard force are likely to deteriorate the human rights situation in Burma rather than improve. This report highlights SPDC and the proxy party?s reality. The elections did not bring any positive hopes and changes to Burma. Many high ranking perpetrators from the military regime, who have committed a series of human rights violations, are in the newly formed cabinet. Thus, the new government will consist of old perpetrators of human rights violations. They will take offi ce and will implement what is stated in the 2008 constitution, ensuring the continuation of military rule, the impunity for perpetrators and the mandate to commit more human rights violations. The elections did not represent a signifi cant change in the human rights situation in Burma and impunity remains entrenched. ND-Burma will continue to monitor human rights violations to give a voice to the people of Burma and to expose unjust policies and practices of the military and their proxies."