Aung San Suu Kyi spoke to voters from Facebook, President Thein Sein was prepping for a meeting with ethnic leaders in Naypyidaw, and several election candidates didn’t know if they had been approved to run yet.
It was a surprisingly boring beginning to the official two-month campaign season in Myanmar yesterday, especially in Yangon. The streets were virtually devoid of processions and rallies, and news stories marking the date just used it as a hook to talk about the election.
Honestly, we didn’t know what to do with ourselves.
“Election Campaign Period off to subdued start” was the headline in the Irrawaddy.
That’s putting it mildly.
Most candidates interviewed by the magazine were working on their own timetable and said they would get out the vote soon. Others were waiting for approval.
“The campaigns in Rangoon will take place only late in the campaign period since there is better transportation here compared to some other regions,” said Saw Than Myint, chairman of the Federal Union Party.
Suu Kyi’s message on Facebook yesterday (posted in English as well) was short and direct, but was bland compared to the crowds she drew in Shan state over the weekend on a visit there.
A two-month period, it should be said, is longer than the one-month timetable in 2010. But that was hardly the free and fair poll that is expected this November.
All in all – except for some action in Mandalay and other areas far from Yangon – not much happened yesteday.
We’ll have to wait a while for the speechifying and politicking to really begin.
Screenshot of Suu Kyi’s message to kick off campaign / Facebook / National League for Democracy
