View Full Version : 20 years ago today in Burma

27-05-10, 05:35
Twenty years ago today in Burma the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 80% of the vote in the first elections held in decades. Since 1990 the NLD has not been allowed to come to power. The rights of the Burmese people are suppressed by a harsh military junta now known as the SPDC (State Peace & Development Council). This year elections are scheduled to happen again, but the NLD is considered defunct by the junta and will not participate. In addition there is an amendment which gives the military 25% of seats at all levels of government.

Please celebrate the anniversary of these elections by spreading the word about Burma. Please tell your friends/family/people online that there are people in Burmese peacefully wanting democracy.


Aung San Suu Kyi led the NLD to victory in 1990, but was placed under house arrest. She was released in 1995, placed under house arrest again in 2000 and largely has remained there ever since. She would have been Burma's Prime Minister if she had been allowed to take power.


Aung San Suu Kyi is an advocate of nonviolence. In a country run by a military that uses violence to instill fear among the people the nonviolent approach may not be the easiest approach, but Aung San Suu Kyi has stated that if victory is won through violence that it only demonstrates that violence is the only answer.
