Posted by : Lizzie on 07/05/2010 at 12:07

This morning the UK is buzzing as the results of the most extraordinary election for decades continue to roll in.

But amongst the mayhem that has beset our own system we should be careful not to ignore some other electoral news announced last night, which although further from home is likely to have a significant impact on the human rights of millions of people.

Today we are mourning the death of any hope for democracy in Burma. The country’s most popular party, the National League for Democracy, has been forced to disband as part of a strategic move by military chiefs to eliminate all opposition parties ahead of the upcoming election.

New electoral laws put in place by Burmese military chiefs required all existing parties to re-register by midnight on Thursday 6th May, forcing all opposition to meet draconian new criteria including the banning of any members with a criminal record. This forced the NLD, whose leader Aung San Suu Kyi was kept under house arrest for almost 14 of the past 20 years by the ruling military junta, to withdraw from the election. A devastating turn of events for the populous who had hoped that this election might signal the beginning of a move towards democracy. The election laws also nullifes the NLD’s overwhelming victory from the last election in 1990, although they were never allowed to govern despite their democratic mandate.

In response to moves by military chiefs to consolidate their grip on power the NLD has called on all parties to boycott the elections. However, as the Burmese electoral commission is rooted in the military junta, such protests are likely to prove futile.

While we wait to hear what will be the result of our own parliament, please consider the situation for the Burmese as their greatest hope for the restoration of democracy has been dissolved. Our concern, as always, is for the children who are the most vulnerable in places were human rights are so restricted.