Election Commission Fraud: Dead People on Myanmar Voter Rolls, says Suu Kyi

09.03.2012

Aung San Suu Kyi expressed concern on Thursday that dead people were appearing on voter rolls in Myanmar ahead of upcoming by-elections, speaking in a meeting in Yangon with Canada's foreign minister.
"A lot of dead people seem to be prepared to vote on the first of April. We can't have that, can we? And other things like that," the pro-democracy leader told John Baird, according to a Canadian pool media report issued in Ottawa.
Suu Kyi said she has asked the election commission "to do something about this," vowing also that her National League for Democracy party "would complain loud and long" for remedies.
In a statement, Baird said he was "very concerned to learn about a good number of irregularities" on voters lists, but also commended President Thein Sein and his government for their commitment to reform.
"There is palpable optimism in the streets of Rangoon," he said, referring to Yangon by another name.
"Burma (Myanmar) has taken several very positive first steps toward democratic development and change; we hope that the progress made to date will continue and lead to further reforms," Baird said.
"We will be watching, in particular, the by-elections on April 1. But the true test will be in the weeks and months that follow."
Baird also met with Thein Sein and other officials during the visit, the first ever by a Canadian minister.
His trip comes three months after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held landmark talks with Myanmar's rulers, saying she was "encouraged" by reform moves from the new regime after decades of repression and isolation.
Myanmar was ruled by the military for decades until elections last year brought a nominally civilian government to power - albeit one with close links to the army.
Ottawa imposed sanctions on Myanmar in 1988 that ban military exports to the country, hinder trade and deny visas to senior officials.
But diplomatic relations started warming last year when Myanmar posted an ambassador in Ottawa.
During Thursday's visit, Baird said he would be "very thrilled to lift sanctions," but added "we want to watch very closely the next three and a half weeks."
Suu Kyi responded that the world should "wait and watch and judge with a cool head."
Baird also presented Suu Kyi with a Canadian citizenship certificate during the visit.
Canada's parliament in 2007 named Suu Kyi an honorary citizen, a title for foreigners bestowed only on four others: Swedish Holocaust hero Raoul Wallenberg, South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela, Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and the Aga Khan, leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims.