Suu Kyi wins historic election

Election officials in Burma confirmed Monday that Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party had won a landslide victory in historic by-elections, with the democracy icon saying she hopes the vote marks the beginning of a new era for the long-repressed country.

Her party, the National League for Democracy [NLD] had boycotted the first poll in November 2010.

However since then, the civilian administration under President Thein Sein has released more than 600 political prisoners, reached ceasefires with ethnic militias and begun to
overhaul the economy.

“This election is very important,” said Beaudee Zawmin, Deputy Director of Brussels-based Euro Burma Office. “ This is the beginning of the democratization in Burma, because [within the past year] changes are taking place – gradually, and slowly, and in the right direction.”

The international community has also noticed these changes, and some sanctions against the regime have been lifted. But some observers fear if this process goes too quickly, the government will no longer have an incentive to continue liberalization.

“There certainly needs to be carrots along with the sticks; it’s is question of timing,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “The problem we have is the European Union seems to be rushing towards relaxing sanctions. Countries like Germany and Italy are pushing very hard to life almost all of the sanctions straight away, rather than having a gradual process which will encourage further reform.”

Listen to full interview by Charles collins with Mark Farmaner: