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| Southeast Asia |
| Suu Kyi's NLD can now run for elections |
| 2012-01-06 |
| YANGON: Myanmar's government on Thursday approved the National League for Democracy to run in upcoming by-elections that will return Aung San Suu Kyi's party to mainstream politics after two decades, the opposition leader said. Allowing Suu Kyi's party back into the political fold will likely give the government greater legitimacy at home and abroad. Western governments have cautiously supported the reforms Myanmar's new government has made since general elections in late 2010, while keeping in place economic sanctions and continuing to urge further reforms. "We have now been officially registered," Suu Kyi told The Associated Press in an interview in her residence. She declined to confirm if she will stand in the election and planned an announcement between Jan. 16 and 31. "This is the time when we have to register our candidates." Party spokesman Nyan Win, however, said in a separate interview Thursday that Suu Kyi intends to run. In 1990 elections, the then-ruling junta refused to accept an NLD victory, and the party boycotted the 2010 elections because of restrictions that among other things would have prevented Suu Kyi from running. The nominally civilian government in office since March has eased restrictions on politics and other matters, leading to the re-registration of the NLD as a political party. Most of the 48 Parliament seats being contested in the April 1 by-election were vacated by MPs who became Cabinet ministers after the first parliamentary session last January. |
| Posted by:Steve White |