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The challenge of uniting a country: Myanmar's momentous election day

By Blog Editor, IOE Digital, on 6 November 2015

Marie Lall
On Sunday – 8th November – Myanmar will go to the polls. In essence this is the first ‘real’ election since 1990. It is only the second time since 1960 and the third if you count 2010, which has seen Myanmar move from a military junta led government to a civilianised parliamentary system. More than 90 parties will be contesting seats for the two houses of parliament as well as the 14 state and regional assemblies.
Given the fact that the elections in 2010 were neither free nor fair, many worry that these elections will also be tampered with. This is of course a possibility, but the fact that international observers, including British and EU observers as well as American NGO the Carter Centre, are on the ground, will mean that any ballot box stuffing will be documented. What is more important are the issues that lie beneath the surface of these elections.
Firstly, there has been an ongoing controversy with regard to voter lists. Citizens were asked to check and (more…)