New Delhi (Mizzima) – Amid the myriad protests over fresh polls in Burma by most of the opposition forces, a pro-junta group led by a former student activist is preparing to contest the general election scheduled to be held in 2010.
The 88 Generation Students and Youth Organization (Union of Myanmar) which supports the junta's economic and political policy will contest the 2010 general elections and be a part of the junta's roadmap to democracy.
"We haven't yet chosen the name of our party but we are preparing to contest and gearing up when the government enacts the political party registration law and election law," Aye Lwin said to Mizzima.
This group has started canvassing work since September 2007 in Burma. They have been to Rangoon Division, Mandalay, Pegu, Magwe, Sagaing and Irrawaddy Divisions, Karen, Mon and Rakhine States where they conducted political and organizational work. They also met local elders, local businessmen and journalists in these areas in their campaign tour.
"We are organizing like-minded people among the citizens and are persuading them to join us politically. Now we have completed the work in six Divisions and three States," Aye Lwin said.
Former Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT) student Aye Lwin was one of the student leaders who led the nationwide uprising in 1988, for transforming Burma to a multi-party democracy. But he later turned against and became a critic of main opposition forces including Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders.
Moreover his group vehemently protested against the economic sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union.
The 'Committee Representing People's Parliament' (CRPP) which comprises of elected MPs from the 1990 general election and other pro-democratic forces have rejected the junta announced election. The junta refused to honour the people's verdict in the 1990 general election and these elected MPs were denied convening the Parliament.
"This is their plan. But we have no plans to canvass and we will not accept the 2010 general election. The junta did not discuss with lawful political parties which have an official standing. We will not contest this election unless they amend the constitution. If they amend the constitution, we will consider contesting the election based on how they amend and what they amend," Aye Thar Aung from CRPP said.
Magwe Division Yenanchaung Township National League for Democracy (NLD) Chairman Khin Saw Htay said that this constitution will give the junta the license to kill.
"The constitution will give license to kill to the junta so we cannot contest the election to be held within the framework of this constitution. It seems like kneeling down before them to be killed. So we cannot accept it in totality. We protested against the constitution and now we will protest the fresh elections," she said.
"There is a lot of difference between a political careerist (opportunist) and genuine politicians. Why should we contest this election? They didn't hand over power to the election winning party in the 1990 general elections. This time they will certainly not hand over power to the NLD even if it wins. We cannot be good and genuine politicians if we contest this election within the framework of this new constitution. It is like pushing our country into the killing fields. It is like killing a dying man," she added.
Politicians in Burma expect the laws for the 2010 election to be enacted and declared at the end of this month as a part of the junta's Seven-Step Roadmap for transition to democracy.
