Myanmar Charter ‘washes away’ Suu Kyi victory

MYANMAR: A referendum approving a new military-backed constitution for Myanmar has “washed away” the victory claimed by Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition party in 1990 elections, state media said Tuesday.

Her National League for Democracy won by a landslide 18 years ago, but the military never recognised the result and has kept the Nobel peace prize winner under house arrest for most of the years since then.

The government mouthpiece New Light of Myanmar said Tuesday that the NLD’s election mandate was “outdated” after the constitution was approved last month in a controversial referendum — held while the impoverished nation was still reeling from the devastating effects of Cyclone Nargis.

“What will those who claimed themselves to have the mandate of the people according to the 1990 election results have to do? Will they have to throw the mandate down the drain?” the English-language paper asked.

“Now, their hope was washed away along the current of the vote of the people,” it added.

Yangon, Tuesday, AFP