Asian election observer criticizes Myanmar

The head of an election monitoring group in Asia has questioned Myanmar government's commitment to political openness, despite Naypyitaw's invitation to election observers. "If democratization is to be sustained and if the Myanmar government is transparent and sincere, they should allow free coverage of local and regional civil society participation in the observing mission," Somsri Hananuntasuk, executive director of Asian Network for Free Elections, said. "After all, those (designated) observers should be able to have free access to any poll booths, not just go to certain specified places, otherwise the monitoring can only be cosmetic." Hananuntasuk spoke to media in Bangkok about what she said was her deportation from Myanmar last week. Two other Anfrel staff members were deported later in the week, she said. Hananuntasuk and her colleagues had been in Myanmar since March 15 seeking assurances from the government that it would approve accreditation for independent observers for next Sunday's by-election in which 48 seats in Parliament will be decided. The seats are vacant because the elected members were appointed to fill Cabinet posts and other executive positions in the central government. Hananuntasuk said government authorities told her and her two assistants that they were in Myanmar on the wrong visas and had to leave the country. Hananuntasuk's departure from Myanmar comes after Anfrel categorized as "encouraging by inadequate" Myanmar's decision to allow in election observers from the Association of South East Asian Nations, the United States and the European Union. A statement by Anfrel said "it is regrettable" that the invitations ... come less than two weeks before Election Day. "As Myanmar authorities know, an effective election observation mission requires significantly more time for planning and preparation," she said. "Unfortunately, even if observers were to arrive today, they would have already missed more than three-quarters of the campaign. ASEAN says that their observers have been asked to arrive only three days before the election." Outside governments are watching the polling to see how far Myanmar's government of former junta leaders is willing to go to have an election recognized internationally as free and fair. Contesting a seat is 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of opposition party National League for Democracy. Suu Kyi and her NLD party won a national election in 1990 but were refused power by the ruling military government. She wasn't allowed to run in the November 2010 national election because she was under house arrest. But the government since has allowed her greater freedom than before to comment on the political situation. Suu Kyi, 66, has welcomed the move by former junta leader and now President Thein Sein toward more open democracy but has cautioned that a lot more must be done. In particular, she wants an end to reservation of 25 percent of parliamentary seats for military members appointed by the government, itself made up former junta leaders who resigned their commissions to run as civilians. But the government's attempt to show more openness could falter on its relations with rebel groups in several states. Polling in Kachin state, which borders China, was suspended because of security concerns that increased fighting might continue as voters attempt to cast ballots. Fighting has intensified in several areas in Kachin, a report by the Kachin News Group said. "Myanmar's armed forces significantly increased a 9-month-long offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization this week," KNG said. "Battles between army columns and Kachin forces have occurred on a daily basis throughout Kachin and northern Shan states since the latest round of talks held March 8-10 failed to reach a peace agreement." Human Rights Watch said last week that the conflict in Kachin is casting a shadow over the government's intentions to have free and fair elections. Human Rights Watch called on both parties to cease fighting and concentrate on the plight of the up 75,000 Kachins displaced because of the conflict.