Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Burmese Opposition Leader Urges Party to Boycott Elections

   VOA News 14 May 2010
   Aung San Suu Kyi ( (File)

Photo: AFP

   Aung San Suu Kyi ( (File)

   Detained  Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi says the decision
   by  some members of her former political party to form a new party and
   participate in upcoming elections is undemocratic.
   Her  lawyer,  Nyan Win, also told VOA that Aung San Suu Kyi has warned
   members  of  the former National League for Democracy to avoid holding
   political talks at party headquarters in Rangoon.
   In March, the National League for Democracy decided to not participate
   in elections planned for later this year.  Aung San Suu Kyi had urged
   her party not to participate, saying election laws are unjust.
   The  National  League  for  Democracy  was forced to dissolve after it
   refused  to dismiss Aung San Suu Kyi.  Burmese election laws prohibit
   registered parties from having criminals in their ranks.
   Aung  San  Suu Kyi has been under some form of detention for 14 of the
   last  20  years,  and many party officials have been held as political
   prisoners. Â
   The  Nobel  Peace  Prize winner was convicted last August of violating
   terms of her house arrest.  She was found guilty of giving shelter to
   an American man who swam to her lakeside Rangoon house uninvited.

.