The party of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, which boycotted last year’s general election, said yesterday it would contest upcoming by-elections, the latest sign of political rapprochement under a new civilian government. The 106-member Central Executive Committee of the National League for Democracy (NLD) voted unanimously to register the party, which was officially dissolved last year by the then military regime, and contest the by-elections, it said. At a meeting to decide whether to re-register, Suu Kyi told members she was in favour of the party contesting the house seats, but she did not say whether she herself was interested in becoming a member of parliament. “In my opinion, I would like the party to re-register and to run in the by-elections in all the 48 constituencies,” she told the meeting, which was attended by reporters. No date has been announced for the by-elections but they are expected by the end of the year. The NLD, Myanmar’s biggest opposition force, won a 1990 election by a landslide but the country’s military refused to cede power and for the following two decade suppressed the party’s activities, putting many of its members in prison. The party boycotted the next election, held on November 7 last year, because of strict laws that prevented many of its members from taking part. As a result, the authorities officially dissolved it but it has continued to function and enjoys strong support from the public. Myanmar recently amended a political party law removing a clause barring anyone convicted of a crime from joining a party or taking part in an election, paving the way for those who had served a prison term, including Suu Kyi, to contest the polls. Reuters
Clinton to visit MyanmarUS President Barack Obama said yesterday he saw “flickers of progress” in Myanmar, dispatching Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a historic visit that could draw the country out of half a century of global isolation. Obama, in Indonesia for a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, said he had spoken for the first time with Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who told him she supported more US engagement with the country. Obama said the release of political prisoners, relaxing of media restrictions and signs of legislative change in recent weeks were “the most important steps towards reform in Burma that we’ve seen in years.” Clinton’s two-day visit from December 1 would be the first by a US secretary of state since a 1962 military coup ushered in 50 years of unbroken military rule that ended in March when a nominally civilian parliament was established.