Election not good for democracy say activist groups

From our correspondent in Bangkok

International human rights and Burma campaign groups have expressed concern that elections taking place in Burma are not good for democracy in the country, according to several reports they have published.

As Burma enters the final week of Burma's most free elections since 1990, with tens of millions of people able to vote for over ninety political parties, and the NLD expected to win a landslide victory and form the first civilian government in 54 years, they are warning that the elections will continue military rule and parties don't respect human rights.

The human rights organisations are claiming the military, which handed over power to a nominally civilian government in 2011, is not genuine in its support for the reform process. This statement is likely to send shockwaves ‎through the US State Department, British Foreign Office and European External Action Service, which has wholeheartedly endorsed the reforms and helped pay for the elections.

"We tried to warn them not to lift sanctions but they wouldn't listen," sighed Mark Stothard from the Alternative Campaign for Burma.