Junta schedules another fake election

A follow-up to yesterday.

According to AP, Myanmar's military government announced it will hold elections in 2010 and that a constitutional referendum will be held in May.

Pro-democracy activists are not impressed.

“The announcement is vague, incomplete and strange,” said spokesman Nyan Win.
“Even before knowing the results of the referendum, the government has already announced that elections will be held in 2010,” he said, implying that the government was certain that the draft constitution will be approved.

They have reason to be skeptical. The referendum is scheduled so as to make it difficult for the government's opponents to organize.

Not to mention that the last time the junta promised an election, they locked up the winner for prime minister, Aung San Suu Kyi.

From the Burma Campaign:

On Saturday 9 February the junta announced that it would hold a referendum on a new constitution in May, and general elections in 2010. However, the constitution enshrines military rule, giving 25 percent of the seats to the military, and also gives the military effective veto power over decisions made by Parliament.

“This is a move away from democracy, not towards it,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “It is public relations spin because they are afraid of stronger sanctions being imposed. They are defying the Security Council by going ahead with this sham process and refusing to hold genuine talks with Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of ethnic groups. There needs to be a strong international response to say that this will not be accepted.”