In Myanmar Election, Lessons for Cambodia

According to the National Election Commission, Suu Kyi’s party has won 163 of the 182 seats declared so far in the Myanmar parliament Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. The NLD has taken 163 of these while the country’s ruling party, the military-backed Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) only holds 10.

The NLD quoted Ye Htut as saying: “In accordance with the Union Election Commission’s election results announcement, I would like to congratulate you, the NLD, for leading the race for parliamentary seats, “the Myanmar Times reported”.

Vote counting is still underway, but early results suggest Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, is certain to win a sweeping victory, ending five decades of military dictatorship.

“Citizens have expressed their will in the election”, she said in letters addressed to President Thein Sein, Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing as well as influential parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann.

In a letter to the president she said it is “very crucial that the government implements, for the pride of the country and the peaceful desire of people” the results of Saturday’s elections.

NLD co-founder Tin Oo told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the party expects to win about 80 per cent of the votes – putting it on pace with the party’s 1990 landslide that the military annulled.

Suu Kyi won the general election and will be a representative to the House of Representatives (Lower House) of the next parliament.

Mr Obama spoke to Ms Suu Kyi on the phone on Wednesday night and commended her for “her tireless efforts and sacrifice over so many years” to promote a peaceful, democratic Burma, the White House said.

On Monday, as the result began to pour in, the ruling party – that was created by the country’s former junta and is led by retired military officers – conceded defeat.

The supporters wore shirts with Suu Kyi’s face printed on them and waved NLD’s official flag with an emblem of a golden peacock. Election authorities have said it could take another 10 days or so to announce a victor.

Now, Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, the National League For Democracy (NLD), has reportedly swept the polls in the Burmese election.

In a statement released Wednesday, the NLD warned that too much enthusiasm could inadvertently lead to chaos.

Ms Suu Kyi is treading carefully before claiming victory.

But in two interviews yesterday, the Nobel peace laureate said that, whoever was appointed president by the newly elected houses of parliament, she would call the shots. The top vote-getter will be president, while the two runners-up will be vice presidents.

The trend so far may allow her to get a majority in the 440-seat lower house despite the military’s right to fill 110 seats – 25 percent.