About 3,000 candidates are contesting the polls Voting begins in Burma election
About 3,000 candidates are contesting the polls The people of Burma are voting in the country’s first national elections for 20 years.
Ruling generals say the polls will mark a transition to democratic civilian rule, but critics say they are a sham, after 50 years of military rule.
The main opposition party, the National League for Democracy, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, is boycotting the vote.
Candidates supporting the military are expected to win the most seats.
State media has urged people to cast their ballots “without fail”, warning against a boycott.
BURMA ELECTION: NUMBERSFirst election in 20 yearsTotal of 37 parties contesting the polls29 million voters eligible to cast ballots1.5 million ethnic voters disenfranchised because areas deemed too dangerous for voting to take placeAbout 3,000 candidates of whom two-thirds are running for junta-linked partiesNo election observers, no foreign journalistsBurma election: The parties David v Goliath in Rangoon
“Every citizen who values democracy and wants democratic rule must cast their votes without fail,” said a recent editorial in the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper.
“However, some people are inciting the people to refrain from voting in the elections. They are attempting to mislead the people who are walking along the road to multi-party democracy,” it said.
Opposition party officials said the pro-junta party had told voters they could lose their jobs if they failed to vote for military-backed candidates.
On the eve of the poll, armed police patrolled the streets of the main city, Rangoon, and shops were closed.
The two junta-linked parties are fielding by far the largest number of candidates.
The National League for Democracy – which won the last polls in 1990 but was never allowed to take power – has been forced to disband after it said it was not participating because of laws which banned Ms Suu Kyi from taking part.
BURMA ELECTION: PARTIESUnion Solidarity and Development Party: Junta-linked party contesting every seat – about 1,160National Unity Party: Junta-linked party contesting 999 seatsNational Democratic Force: Pro-democracy party contesting 163 seatsShan Nationalities Democratic Party: Largest of the ethnic parties, contesting 157 seats
Other parties that are contesting the polls have struggled to fund campaigns and have complained of harassment.
Foreign journalists and observers will not be allowed into the country for the election.
Burma has been hit in recent days by major internet disruption, which some believe is an attempt by the junta to restrict communications over the poll period.
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