New Delhi - Burma's state run newspaper on Sunday dismissed the 1990 general election results, swept by opposition party – the National League for Democracy – saying it is now invalid.
The article carried in the Burmese military junta's official mouthpiece, New Light of Myanmar said the overwhelming approval of the draft constitution in May shows that the people of Burma no longer consider the 1990 election results important.
"The result of the 1990 election is no longer legal as it has been ditched by the entire people who are desirous of the emergence of a new modern developed democratic nation," the article said.
But the NLD, on Monday said the article does not carry any weight and cannot be taken seriously.
"We find the article baseless; it is no point making such statements through an article which does not even carry the writers original name," Aung Thein, a senior NLD member told Mizzima.
Aung Thein said, the junta by publishing such articles is using a different strategy to brainwash the people into believing that the 1990 election mandate is no longer applicable.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led NLD won more than 80 per cent of parliamentary seats in the 1990 general elections but the military junta, which has ruled the country for nearly half a century refused to hand over power.
"The 1990 election was in keeping with the law and they cannot play around with the law. They must abide by the law that they have made," Aung Thein, who is a lawyer by profession, said.
But the article said the NLD instead of holding on to the 1990 election results should join hands and contest the ensuing elections in 2010.
"This being so, the NLD'd better join hands with the people and then stand for the 2010 election in line with the laws instead of longing for the result of the 1990 election," the article urged.
Burma's military rulers said it is implementing a seven-step roadmap to democracy. After the junta claimed that a draft constitution prepared by it was overwhelmingly approved by 92. 48 per cent of voters in May, it is now gearing up for general elections scheduled in 2010.
However, critics and observers said the referendum in May was not 'free and fair' and that the junta had rigged votes in order to win.
While detained Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party, NLD, declined to officially comment on whether they will contest the 2010 elections, Aung Thein said it is meaningless to hold another election before upholding the first result.
"It is like taking another loan before repaying the previous one. As for me, I would never allow anyone to take a loan before they can clear their first loan," said Aung Thein, citing that without honouring the first election result it would be meaningless to hold another election.
