Tint Swe

The representative of the exiled government is against the idea of removing the U.S. and the EU embargo on the dictatorship. Increased trade and investment, would only serve to enrich those in power. ASEAN launches appeal for the lifting of the sanctions, never defends the oppressed people.

The dictatorship has introduced military service for adult males and females. A law drawn up before the elections on Nov. 7, but only made public in recent days. On January 31 the first sitting of the Chambers, the new "armed wing" of the junta in power for over 20 years. The institutional framework changes, but control of nation’s political life remains unchanged.

The great Burmese dissident highlights the important role played by Aung San Suu Kyi in building democracy in Burma. He warns the junta that history is passing them by and that Beijing and New Delhi will not let them do as they please forever.

The Election Commission used bags of pre-marked ballots to beat anti-junta candidates. Hopes and expectations for a clean vote are dashed. Aung San Suu Kyi remains the country’s true leader.

The junta is not allowing the election to take place in a number of villages inhabited by minority ethnic Kayah. Despite the censorship, news about already filled out ballots is filtering out. A young NLD activist is arrested over night for giving out pro-boycott flyers. A minister from the Burmese government in exile wonders who will be the first between China, India, Russia or North Korea to congratulate U Thein Sein, the predetermined “winner”.

Tint Swe, a Burmese government representative in exile, speaks to AsiaNews about the vote on November 7. A rigged vote whose outcome is already known. But with the prospect of searching for new agreement between populations, political and ethnic groups, with the future government.

The military junta fears her, and undermine her appeal, has launched a defamation campaign against her. November’s useless vote is but another stage in the fight for democracy.

Upcoming parliamentary elections are a farce. New lawmakers will come from the armed forces (25 per cent), the junta’s party (50 per cent), and representatives of the old regime (25 per cent). Burmese exile says the generalissimo wants stability to stay in power. The constitution and election law are designed to prevent a defeat as in 1990.

The constitution, the election commission and rules and regulations about political parties and candidates are weapons in the hands of the military to secure a majority in parliament. Further restrictions are envisaged for the upcoming election on 7 November. Forty parties are running, but not Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, which is boycotting the poll.

Tint Swe, a member of Burma’s government in exile, looks at his country’s food problem. Since democracy was replaced by the dictatorship, Burma has suffered in every domain.

Senior General Than Shwe has been in India since Sunday to sign economic agreements. On the first day of his visit, he travelled to Bodh Gaya and Sarnath, two important pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha. Two days earlier, the Burmese military wiped out a Christian village in Karen State, eastern Myanmar.

The release of the political prisoner close to Aung San Suu Kyi is not a sign of change. He has served the full sentence and should have already been released in September 2008, after a general amnesty. The military in business with the world's largest democracy (India) and worst tyrant (North Korea).