Burma's neighbors -- India, China, and Thailand -- all have much to gain from the dictatorship and little to gain from democratic and human rights reforms.
RANGOON, Burma – Burma's pro-military party [which ran uncontested in most races] was headed toward a [ludicrous] "sweeping election victory," according to the first official results released Wednesday.
Critics, however, said the vote was rigged and poll fraud was rampant. Top members of the ruling military dictatorship, including Prime Minister Thein Sein, were among those who won seats in Parliament, according results broadcast Wednesday night on state-controlled television. Thein Sein heads the Union Solidarity and Development Party [formerly SLORC], which served as a proxy for the ruling totalitarian junta.The announcement came as a close political ally of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the 65-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner will help investigate allegations of election fraud — if she is released from house arrest, which is due to expire Saturday. [Until she is re-arrested on whatever charges are convenient at the time.]
Suu Kyi's intention to re-enter the political fray, especially in a manner that would embarrass the junta, poses the sort of challenge the military has met in the past by locking her up again. More>>
