The Myanmar military’s political proxy claimed an overwhelming victory yesterday in an election condemned as a sham by the West, as fresh fighting erupted between rebels and government forces.
Pro-democracy parties urged the authorities to act against “cheating” during the poll, in which the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) enjoyed major financial and campaigning advantages.
“We have won about 80 percent of the seats. We are glad,” said a senior USDP member who did not want to be named.
PHOTO: AFP
The vote appeared to have gone largely according to the junta’s plans, but clashes between -government troops and ethnic minority soldiers on Monday triggered an exodus of about 20,000 people into neighboring Thailand.
At least three civilians were killed when heavy weapons fire hit the town of Myawaddy in Karen State, an official in Myanmar said. Local residents said yesterday that Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) rebels had retreated into surrounding forests pursued by government forces.
The army-backed party — formed by Prime Minister Thein Sein and other former military top brass who shed their uniforms for the vote — said turnout was more than 70 percent, despite muted activity seen at many polling stations.
Opposition parties -complained about widespread reports of irregularities, particularly with advance ballots.
Than Nyein, chairman of the National Democratic Force (NDF) said the party, created by former members of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, appeared to have won only about 10 percent of the more than 160 seats it contested.
“Our country has lacked dignity in the world so we wanted to restore our pride with a fair election. I’m very sorry because these acts could further harm the dignity of our country,” he said.
Thu Wai, chairman of the Democratic Party, said that when people were allowed to vote freely they had supported his party.
With 25 percent of the seats in parliament reserved for military appointees, the two main pro-junta parties needed to win just 26 -percent of the elected seats to secure a majority.
US President Barack Obama led international criticism of the vote.
“It is unacceptable to steal an election, as the regime in Burma [Myanmar] has done again for all the world to see,” he said in a speech to the Indian parliament on Monday.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the vote ”insufficiently inclusive, participatory and transparent,” his spokesman said.
Myanmar’s ASEAN neighbors, however, welcomed the poll as a “significant step forward.”
China applauded the military junta yesterday for holding a weekend election.
“This is a critical step for Myanmar in implementing the seven-step road map in the transition to an elected government, and thus is welcome,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei (洪磊) told reporters.
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