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.


    March 31, 2012

Burma's Suu Kyi Set for Public Office

   VOA News
   Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during a press
   conference at her house in Rangoon, March 30, 2012. Photo: AP
   Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during a press
   conference at her house in Rangoon, March 30, 2012.

   Burma's parliamentary and by- elections
     * 45 seats in the national legislature are being contested.
     * 160 candidates from 17 parties and eight independents are running.
     * Legislature comprised of 440 seat lower house, 224 seat senate, 14
       regional assemblies.
     * 25 percent of seats chosen by armed forces commander and reserved
       for military personnel.
     * The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won 76 percent of
       the vote in 2010.
     * Constitution limits lawmakers' powers.

   Burma is finalizing arrangements Saturday for Sunday's historic
   election when pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under
   house arrest just over a year ago, is likely to be voted into
   parliament in the military-dominated country.
   Her participation in the polling has been made possible by a fragile
   detente with a government that has embarked on surprising democratic
   reforms over the last several months.
   Sunday's vote is for only a small minority of seats in national and
   regional legislatures, but it has not diminished the outpouring of
   enthusiasm for Aung San Suu Kyi - whom the government tried to silence
   for two decades - and her National League for Democracy party.
   The Nobel Peace laureate said Friday she does not expect Burma's
   election to be fair, but still significant.

   A Look at some of major political parties for the April 1st
   by-election:

National League for Democracy

     * Aung San Suu Kyi's party was founded in 1988 after a popular
       uprising
     * Won the 1990 parliamentary elections in a landslide but results
       never recognized by the military regime
     * Boycotted 2010 elections and was stripped of legal party status
     * Contesting 44 seats

Union Solidarity and Development Party

     * Current ruling party
     * Formed by current President Thein Sein and other members of
       military junta
     * Won vast majority in 2010 election
     * Contesting all 45 seats
     * It will retain its majority in parliament regardless of the results

National Democratic Force

     * Formed by breakaway NLD members
     * Won several seats in the 2010 election
     * Contesting about 10 seats

Shan Nationalities League for Democracy

     * The second largest winning party in the 1990 elections
     * Boycotted the 2010 elections
     * Often sides with Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party

Shan Nationalities Democratic Party

     * Widely known as the White Tiger Party
     * Won 57 seats in the 2010 elections
     * Contesting seats in only a handful of constituencies

National Unity Party

     * Formed bythe military junta and members of the former Burma
       Socialist Program Party
     * Defeated badly by the NLD in 1990 elections
     * Fielded the second highest number of candidates in the 2010
       election but defeated badly again

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

.