Mizzima News

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Gearing up for the ensuing general election that the ruling junta has proposed for 2010, a few politicians in Bogale Town in Irrawaddy division held a meeting on Monday.

The meeting held at the residence of Nay Myo Wai, who has been writing critical articles against Burma's mainstream opposition on internet web pages, in Padauk Street of Bogale town in Irrawaddy division, lasted about three hours. It was a gathering of a few politicians, who are believed to endorse the ruling junta's roadmap to democracy.

"The aim was to create awareness among the people so that people will know how to choose their representatives in the elections in 2010," Nay Myo Wai told Mizzima.

He said, people are not much aware about politics and are not even able to raise questions to test the intellectual levels of possible candidates.

"They don't even have questions to ask. So through this meeting we were able to explain and teach them," he added.

He said, the meeting was attended by a few dignitaries in the area including Thetkatoe Myat Thu, Tin Win, who was an elected Member of Parliament of Kyaik Latt Township in the 1990 election, an economist Ohn Lwin, and a few villagers and local people. The meeting was held after obtaining permission of the District Peace and Development Council.

"Authorities said we can conduct the meeting if it was for less than 50 people. So we called a few elders, some respected persons and a few local people totaling less than 50," he added.

The meeting, according to him, was part of the plan to prepare the public for the ensuing elections in 2010, and the process will continue among the people.