Election concerns shared
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Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of National League for Democracy (NLD), and US Democratic congresswoman Nancy Pelosi met last week shared their concerns that the elections may be postponed from the original schedule of late October or early November.
After their meeting on Wednesday, the congresswoman released a statement, saying both discussed the critical nature of the upcoming elections. They also shared concerns about the process to achieve the nationwide ceasefire agreement, which may be used as an excuse to delay the elections.
Last week, the government and 16 armed ethnic groups agreed to the draft nationwide ceasefire agreement. It is expected to be signed in coming weeks.
The American delegation stressed the need for broad participation of all citizens in the election and the importance of ensuring that all parties are able to compete on equal footing.
The bipartisan delegation arrived in Myanmar on April 1 during a tour of Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, South Korea and Japan. They met with President Thein Sein and Union Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann separately in Nay Pyi Taw in addition to the NLD leader. Moreover, the delegation met some civil society groups in Yangon. Their mission is to promote security cooperation, human rights and trade.
