Burma’s 2010 Election & Media

By Kyaw Zwa Moe

s Where’s
My Vote ?
Historic Election in 1990
About 15 million Burmese cast their votes
Election in 2010
 Burma has seen 14 general elections since 1922, w
hen Britain introduced a “diarchy” system of govern
ment.

 The 2010 elections will be the 15th time. The questi

on is: will that election reflect the will of the entire B
urmese voters?

 Among the past 14 elections, the last election held i

n 1990 was a significant one.
Current Political Landscape
More than
2,000 political Hazy Situation
prisoners

The
Political Constitution
parties are bars DASSK
under from contesting
surveillance in the election

Gathering of
Free & Fair
more than election?
five people at
a time
Current Media Landscape
No private
owned
newspaper No laws to
protect
Surveillance journalists
Over 200 and
private journals censorship by
and magazines government
Media
No private inside faces
broadcast dangers to
media or TV report the
elections
Exile Media Role
• It has been stronger in recent
years.

• The monks’ demonstration in 2007

• Cyclone Nargis in 2008

• Also in 2010, the exile media has to

play such a role.
Areas of interest by media regarding
election

• Voters’ education
• Voters’ registration
• Media monitoring
• Media freedom of all political parties
and candidates
• etc.
Areas of interest by media regarding
election

• Election day process

• Opening of the voting day
• Arrival of voters
• Voter fraud or voter interference
• Voting process
• Closing process
Areas of interest by media regarding
election

• Voting count process

• Ballots are counted fairly

• transparency
The actions of media for 2010 electio
n

Expand a network with correspondents a

nd citizen journalists inside the country

To work together with media groups insid

e the country.

To get news out of the country immediate

ly and report it accurately
Some get all the benefits,
others get all the burdens
The result of the 1990 Election…
and the Winners…
Why does
the junta hold
this Election ???
USDP
All Change
change
Thank You
Kyaw Zwa Moe
kyawzwa@irrawaddy.org

THE IRRAWADDY