US praises Myanmar election as the country waits for result

Millions of people from around the country, many of whom were voting for the first time, seized this opportunity to move one step closer to a democracy that respects the rights of all – a testament to the courage and sacrifice shown by the people of Myanmar over many decades, the US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.

While these elections were an important step forward, the US recognised that they were far from perfect, he said.

“There remain important structural and systemic impediments to the realisation of full democratic and civilian government, including the reservation of a large number of unelected seats for the military; the disfranchisement of groups of people who voted in previous elections, including the Rohingya; and the disqualification of candidates based on arbitrary application of citizenship and residency requirements,” he said.

The ballot counting continued Monday indicating the National League for Democracy (NLD) of Aung San Suu Kyi might win an overwhelming victory. Suu Kyi herself won her seat in the upper house in the Kawhmu constituency. NLD candidates also took all other seats for lower house, region and states houses in the township.

Meanwhile House speaker Shwe Mann, a candidate of ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) conceded his defeat and posted his Facebook to congratulate his competitor from NLD.