Myanmar’s opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), has stated that their leader Aung San Suu Kyi has won a seat in the country’s parliament in the by-election, the party having gained 45 out of the 664 seats. Though, no official confirmation of this from government so far.

The success in these elections could well mean bigger gains for the Opposition in the 2015 general elections. “Still, there is this nagging problem that a quarter of all seats in parliament must go to the military – that is written into the constitution,” informed Hay, adding the Suu Kyi has been very open about wanting to change that provision.

Sunday’s vote was seen as an important test of the government’s commitment to its democratic reforms. About six million people were eligible to vote this time around, with a total of 160 candidates from 17 parties, including six new to the political arena, contesting for 45 parliamentary seats. The number of seats at stake was not enough to threaten the military-backed ruling party’s overwhelming majority.

The government invited teams of foreign observers for the first time, with attendance by representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, European Union and the US, plus journalists, all witness the elections.

Journalist Hays reporting earlier from Kawhmu, said: *”There are international monitors on the ground, but they are not allowed inside the polling booths. They are certainly not allowed to oversee the counting when that starts later on Sunday.”* They are in the country to observe the overall process, talk to voters about any irregularities that might be seen.

Flashback: The National League for Democracy won in a landslide election victory in 1990 but the ruling military never allowed that political organisation to take office and the same party boycotted the 2010 polls that brought the army’s political proxies into power and that were strongly suspect owing to complaints of cheating and intimidation.

However, that’s in the past and there are a number of signs of positive change that all sides are welcoming, not least the military Government that is getting a practical welcome by the international community, albeit that that interest is veered by strategic and strictly commercial gains.

MYANMAR’S POLITICAL PARTIES (From media sources)
A total of 17 parties are competed in the by-election, with four main contenders for the 45 seats.

National League for Democracy: The NLD was founded in 1988 by Aung San Suu Kyi after a popular uprising against military rule.

Union Solidarity and Development Party: The USDP won about 80 per cent of the seats available in 2010, and is backed by the military.

National Democratic Force: The NDF is made up of breakaway NLD leaders who opposed Suu Kyi’s decision not to run in 2010.

Shan Nationalities Democratic Party: The SNDP represents Myanmar’s second-largest ethnic group, and had a strong showing in 2010.