BURMA: National League for Democracy says it may have won 44 seats in Parliament

By Dilip -
Some good news at last!


Late Sunday night, NLD officials were cautiously jubilant, saying they may have won 44 constituencies in the historic by-election that places Aung San Suu Kyi in the center of opposition politics in Burma. Their forecast was based on unofficial results. Aung San Suu Kyi visited several villages and greeted voters in Kawhmu Township, where she stayed overnight prior to election day. She left the township to return to her home in Rangoon around 10:30 a.m. Aung San Suu Kyi issued a National League for Democracy (NLD) notification for all NLD candidates to be gracious in victory, and to be prepared to work with other opposition parties and the ruling government.



The Union Election Commission said the official results would be certified in about one week. Surprisingly, the NLD said its candidates did well in Naypyitaw, the seat of the government-backed United Solidarity and Development Party. Based on unofficial results, the NLD said the vote count at polling station number 3 in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township constituency indicated Phyu Phyu Thin easily won and will go to Parliament. Phyu Phyu Thin heads the NLD’s volunteer HIV/AIDS relief center in Rangoon.
An interesting sidelight: Former chief of Military Intelligence and former Primer Minister Khin Nyunt teased reporters on Sunday, saying that he cast his ballot for a party that is supported by many people. Khin Nyunt, along with his wife and son, went to a polling station at Ward No. 7 in Mayangon Township, Rangoon, about 9 a.m, said reporter Lin Bo Bo. Journalists asked him which party he favored, and he said a party that is popular. His son, Zaw Naing Oo, said that he voted for the “Fighting Peacock” [the NLD] - Read more..

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