The 2012 By-Elections in Burma

expand all
collapse all

Websites/Multiple Documents

Description: Archive from 2010
Source/publisher: Various sources via "BurmaNet News"
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-18
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
more
expand all
collapse all

Individual Documents

Description: "On 1 April 2012, Burma held by-elections to fill 45 vacant parliamentary seats (37 in the People?s Assembly, six in the National Assembly, and two in Division Parliaments). Most of the 45 seats were vacant because the elected MPs assumed positions in the executive branch. All 45 seats were held by regime-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) MPs. The vacant seats made up less than 7% of the Parliament?s 659 seats. The by-elections were originally scheduled to take place in 48 constituencies. However, on 23 March the regime Election Commission canceled voting in three Kachin State constituencies..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of entry/update: 2015-11-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "...The NLD?s success in the by-election, while not providing it with the ability to dramatically influence the parliamentary process at the moment, suggests that the country may be on course towards genuine democratic transition and reconciliation. However, it is imperative that President Thein Sein, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and all ethnic actors work together to maintain this momentum and ensure that the county continues to move forward towards genuine change, an end to ethnic conflict, and equality for all peoples of the country."
Creator/author: Paul Keenan
Source/publisher: Burma Centre for Ethnic Studies (Briefing Paper No. 5 )
2012-04-11
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 517.43 KB
Local URL:
more
Description: "Myanmar?s highly anticipated by-elections, held on April 1 for some 45 parliamentary seats, has borne its first diplomatic fruit. The United States announced a relaxation of certain economic sanctions and movement on the resumption of full diplomatic relations with Naypyidaw in reward for the country?s recent democratic progress. However, the opposition National League for Democracy?s landslide victory of 43 out of the 45 seats may be somewhat overstated and questions remain about the sincerity of President Thein Sein?s government?s commitment to sustainable reform..."
Creator/author: Brian McCartan
Source/publisher: Asia Times Online
2012-04-06
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Our Election Monitoring Network, led by the 88 Generation Students, was established to monitor the April 1 by-Election in collaboration with political parties, independent candidates, civil society groups, international and local media, as well with civic participation. Our monitors were usually stationed in their respective constituencies to collect data while our network also monitored local and online media regarding the various activities of the election. Our objective, as an independent monitoring group, is to ensure free and fair election through the transparency of the electoral process, while at the same time encouraging greater civic participation and awareness in the elections...Analysis: Generally, our group is satisfied with the whole electoral process now being finished without any major risks including violence and unrest. We all look forward to seeing more transparency and accountability of the process. However, we would like to pinpoint some crucial facts necessary to create a more open society through democratic elections..."
Source/publisher: Election Monitoring Network
2012-04-07
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese/ မြန်မာဘာသာ
Format : pdf
Size: 5.18 MB
more
Description: "Our Election Monitoring Network, led by the 88 Generation Students, was established to monitor the April 1 by-Election in collaboration with political parties, independent candidates, civil society groups, international and local media, as well with civic participation. Our monitors were usually stationed in their respective constituencies to collect data while our network also monitored local and online media regarding the various activities of the election. Our objective, as an independent monitoring group, is to ensure free and fair election through the transparency of the electoral process, while at the same time encouraging greater civic participation and awareness in the elections...Analysis: Generally, our group is satisfied with the whole electoral process now being finished without any major risks including violence and unrest. We all look forward to seeing more transparency and accountability of the process. However, we would like to pinpoint some crucial facts necessary to create a more open society through democratic elections..."
Source/publisher: Election Monitoring Network
2012-04-07
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 283.85 KB
more
Description: Aung San Suu Kyi?s win is a humiliation for the army. Will it now turn nasty?
Source/publisher: "Time"
2012-04-05
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 60.49 KB
more
Description: These results were published in "The New Light of Myanmar" of 3 and 4 April, 2012. According to Mizzima: "The final, official by-election results announced by the Burmese Union Election Commission on Tuesday gave the National League for Democracy Party (NLD) 6.4 per cent of the seats in Parliament. The NLD won a total of 43 seats in the April 1 by-election. The NLD contested for a total of 44 vacant seats. It won 37 seats in the Lower House, four seats in the Upper House and two seats in state or regional assemblies. Dr. Myat Nyarna Soe of National Democratic Force (NDF) won a seat in the Upper House in 2010, and he later joined the NLD, giving it a total of five Upper House seats, making the NLD representation in Parliament 44 seats. According to the Constitution, there should be 224 parliamentarians in the Upper house and 440 parliamentarians in Lower House. However, there are a total 224 MPs in Upper House and 432 MPs in Lower House. The total parliamentarians in Parliament will be 656. The EC announcement said Shan Nationalities Democratic Party candidate Sai San Min won the Shan State No. 3 constituency Upper House seat; and Union Solidarity and Development Party candidate Tin Mya won the Sagaing Region constituency no. 7 Upper House seat, respectively."
Source/publisher: "The New Light of Myanmar" April 3, 4
2012-04-04
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 381.51 KB
more
Description: The by-election victory of Aung San Suu Kyi?s party in Burma (Myanmar) raises the question of whether the country is at last on an irreversible path towards democracy. A detailed analysis of the context suggests seven reasons for caution, says Joakim Kreutz.
Creator/author: Joakim Kreutz
Source/publisher: openDemocracy
2012-04-05
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: 50 or so articles from international media, many on the by-elections...N.B. 7 or more pages.
Creator/author: Edith Bronder (curator)
Source/publisher: Scoop-it
2012-04-04
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
more
Creator/author: Aarti Ramachandran, Ariel Stulberg, Ethan Wagner, Ethan Wilkes, Krisztian Simon
Source/publisher: International Policy Digest
2012-04-05
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: Executive Summary: "For the first time in decades, Burma will be holding Parliamentary by-?‐elections that allows major opposition parties to contest the available seats. The move has been hailed by many in the international community as evidence of democratic progress and the elections are now being used as a benchmark for lifting sanctions if deemed ?free and fair? by international monitors. However, whether the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner is not a genuine reflection of the level of civil and political liberties accorded to the people of Burma. There are hundreds of political prisoners still behind bars, and those who have been released face deprivation of fundamental freedoms and extensive monitoring by security forces. What matters most is not what happens on the day of the elections, but how the campaigns are conducted in the months preceding. There have been countless reports of ballot fraud, intimidation, and harassment of opposition groups that show the elections will be anything but free and fair. We call on the international community to not be fooled by the charade and maintain pressure on the U Thein Sein regime until all political prisoners are released and concrete measures are taken to ensure political and civil liberties are enjoyed by all in Burma."
Source/publisher: Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
2012-03-27
Date of entry/update: 2012-03-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 283.45 KB
more
Description: The trouble with the by-elections; Electoral framework not in line with int?l standards; Election laws limit political participation; Election Commission lacks independence and impartiality; Campaign restrictions still in place; Complaint process ineffective and inaccessible; Restrictions, irregularities, harassment, and vote-buying mar pre-election period; Restrictions on NLD activities; Widespread irregularities; Threats, harassment, and vote buying; More voters disenfranchised; Censorship still in place; Election observation falls short of international standards; By-elections who?s who
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
2012-03-27
Date of entry/update: 2012-03-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more