30.03.2012
The Myanmar government has promised that the by-elections on Sunday would be free, fair and transparent.
It said international media and observers would be allowed to move freely around the country to witness the polls.
Still, observers remain cautiously optimistic, concerned that election officials on the ground may not be ready for closer international scrutiny.
Hundreds of observers and journalists on Thursday converged at Myanmar's Foreign Ministry to attend a briefing on Sunday's by-elections.
At the same time, they got assurances they would not be impeded from their duties, as in the 2010 election.
The Myanmar government dismissed suggestions that international pressure had brought about this change.
Myanmar's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin said: "I think there's no pressure on the government to invite this kind of observers because this is the decision of our government, to allow observers to observe by themselves, that the by-elections will be held in a very transparent, free and fair manner."
Close to 200 international observers are currently in Myanmar, including those from ASEAN countries.
They welcome the positive signal given by the central government, but many fear officials at polling centres might not be ready for more transparency.
Yangon British Embassy deputy head of mission Jeremy Hodges said: "We are looking forward to this opportunity to attend, and to see the conduct of the election.
"And on the day, it will be just as important for us to be able to witness and to able to hear about the interest of the people and the parties at each of the polling stations wherever they might be."
Twenty-five-year-old Myanmar national Khine Mon Che will be covering her country's by-elections as a journalist.
Having voted for the first time last year, Khine said there is now less control over the media on the election coverage.
Khine, a TV Journalist with Skynet Up-To-Date, said: "Now I can report on everything. I can now [participate in] your interview freely. So I'm satisfied."
There are more than 8,000 polling centres across Myanmar.
The government has promised that international media and observers are free to choose which centre they want to visit.
It said international media and observers would be allowed to move freely around the country to witness the polls.
Still, observers remain cautiously optimistic, concerned that election officials on the ground may not be ready for closer international scrutiny.
Hundreds of observers and journalists on Thursday converged at Myanmar's Foreign Ministry to attend a briefing on Sunday's by-elections.
At the same time, they got assurances they would not be impeded from their duties, as in the 2010 election.
The Myanmar government dismissed suggestions that international pressure had brought about this change.
Myanmar's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin said: "I think there's no pressure on the government to invite this kind of observers because this is the decision of our government, to allow observers to observe by themselves, that the by-elections will be held in a very transparent, free and fair manner."
Close to 200 international observers are currently in Myanmar, including those from ASEAN countries.
They welcome the positive signal given by the central government, but many fear officials at polling centres might not be ready for more transparency.
Yangon British Embassy deputy head of mission Jeremy Hodges said: "We are looking forward to this opportunity to attend, and to see the conduct of the election.
"And on the day, it will be just as important for us to be able to witness and to able to hear about the interest of the people and the parties at each of the polling stations wherever they might be."
Twenty-five-year-old Myanmar national Khine Mon Che will be covering her country's by-elections as a journalist.
Having voted for the first time last year, Khine said there is now less control over the media on the election coverage.
Khine, a TV Journalist with Skynet Up-To-Date, said: "Now I can report on everything. I can now [participate in] your interview freely. So I'm satisfied."
There are more than 8,000 polling centres across Myanmar.
The government has promised that international media and observers are free to choose which centre they want to visit.
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