Muslim detectors to be installed at polling stations

From our correspondent in Nay Pyi Daw

Burma Tha Din has uncovered plans by the Union Election Commission (UEC) to install Muslim detectors, similar to airport style metal detectors, ‎at entrances to polling stations for election due on November 8th.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a UEC official confirmed the plans but said they were not yet ready to formally announce them.

"What else can we do”, asked the official "First we took away the Bingli's right to vote, then rejected their candidates for MPs. The USDP and NLD rejected candidates who are Muslim, and we rejected so many candidates from the Muslim party that their party will now be banned as they can't meet minimum candidate numbers. But these bloody Muslims can't take a hint, and it is learned that many Muslims are still planning to vote."

Questioned about whether there is any way a scanner can detect someone’s religion,‎ the official admitted he also privately had doubts, but said that a consortium of Burmese business men, rumoured to include Tay Za, had promised they had the technology and could offer a very good price.

“Even with the discount we don’t have the funding to install this technology at every polling station, so we are reaching out to international donors for assistance. Sweden, the UK and several other countries helped fund the census which excluded the Rohingya, and as the election will also exclude the Rohingya, we are hoping they will fund this as well. And we can count on the United Nations agencies in Myanmar, who always agree to everything we ask without making a fuss.”

Ma Ba Tha leader, The Venerable U Goebbels, speaking from his private jet en-route from meetings in Nay Pyi Daw, welcomed the proposed move, telling Burma Tha Din; “President Thein Sein truly is a son of Buddha. This is a very cool idea. It’s definitely a good excuse to throw another party!”

Canvassing public opinion on the move, Burma Tha Din found widespread support, with one shopkeeper telling our correspondent; “I totally agree with this, no matter what it costs we must do it. I can’t tell you how worried I have been that I’ll wake up on November 9th to find myself living in a Caliphate and my daughters married to men with beards.”

Burma Tha Din asked an NLD spokesperson for comment but he just gave us the phone number for the local Ma Ba Tha office, muttered something about cutting out the middle man, all these years of sacrifice for what, and then informed us of his resignation.

As the European Union has been a staunch supporter of the election process and is sending election monitors, Burma Tha Din asked for their reaction. However, we were told that the European Union had been unable to reach consensus on a statement as several European Union countries were very interested in purchasing the detectors themselves.

National League for Democracy will soon have its first policy

By our correspondent in Yangon

Burma Tha Din can exclusively reveal today that the National League for Democracy (NLD) will soon have its first policy.

A senior leader at the NLD headquarters in Rangoon told Burma Tha Din on condition of anonymity; "I can't tell you what it is or even which area it will be, but someone from the HQ who was taking post and other documents to The Lady's house in Naypyidaw was using the restroom and overheard through the door people in the office mention something about a policy.”

Speculation has been growing that the NLD will announce at least one policy ahead of key national elections expected in late November next year.

Earlier this year the NLD held its first national conference in decades, and some observers had expressed hope that this conference would discuss policy, but in the event no policy matters were put on the agenda, only NLD organisational issues. The establishment of NLD committees on some issues, such as education, also led to fevered speculation about the NLD having specific policies, but so far none have materialized.

NLD officials gave mixed responses to our correspondent when asked about the lack of policies. One NLD leader stated that there is no need for the NLD to have any policies as they are not in government, and they will make some when they get into government. Another said that people will vote NLD anyway, so they don’t need any. Why take the risk of upsetting anyone?

However, another NLD leader said that they may indeed have policies, but simply haven’t been told about them. “Dr Tin Mar Aung won’t let us see The Lady, so we have no idea what she is agreeing in all the meetings that she has with the United Nations and foreign visitors. When Dr Tin Mar Aung decides the time is right, she will let the people she likes know what the correct policy is.”

Aung San Suu Kyi and her policy team meet with the Indian Prime Minister and his policy team earlier this month

Exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi

Exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi

Burma Tha Din has secured this exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi

Interviewer
Dear Mother
According to the reports, Human Rights Watch are saying that ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity have been taking place against the Rohingya in Burma. What is your response to this?

DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
The European Union lifted the sanctions, saying it is a reward for remarkable change in Burma. But many are saying it is too soon to lift sanctions, because many human rights problems remain. What is your opinion? Is lifting sanctions a good way to promote human rights?

DASSK
These kind of problems happen because there is a problem of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
Mother Suu, it is now almost two years since the ceasefire in Kachin State was broken, and since then there have been reports of rape and many other human rights abuses, and tens of thousands of people displaced and suffering because of aid being blocked. Despite promises from the President and military to observe a ceasefire, the Kachin Independence Army says they are still being attacked by the Burmese Army. What do you think should be done to end this conflict?

DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
It is learned that more political prisoners are being released this week. How do you say about this?

DASSK
The question of political prisoners arises due to the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
It is now a year since the EU suspended and then the USA lifted many sanctions, but there has still not been much investment in Burma, why do you think this is?

DASSK
I think that investors are concerned by the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
What is your opinion on reports that the army and security forces have been raping many women in Rakhine and Kachin State?

DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
There is a growing problem of land confiscation across the country, as your have seen yourself at Letpadaung. What do you think should be done about this?

DASSK
What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
Dear Mother, thank you very much for answering my questions today, it has been a great honour.