New Myanmar law to stop jailed opposition leader from standing
Wednesday 10 March 2010
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EmailMyanmar's military rulers have proclaimed a new electoral law that bars jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from standing as a candidate.
A government decree published in official newspapers prohibits citizens with a criminal conviction from belonging to a political party and adds to the military junta's declaration that the country's constitution prevents citizens married to foreign nationals from holding political office.
Ms Suu Kyi, who is married to a British citizen, is the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), but has been imprisoned for 14 of the last 20 years.
The only democratic elections to be held in Myanmar for 50 years were resoundingly won in 1990 by the NLD, but the results were declared void, Ms Suu Kyi was jailed and the military junta continued to run the country and even changed its name from Burma.
NLD deputy chairman Tin Oo declared that the new proclamation was obviously aimed at Ms Suu Kyi.
"This is too much, this is politically motivated," he insisted.
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